Anyone who has run out of propane in the middle of a cookout will appreciate the translucent Lite Cylinder propane tank, which allows you to see the amount of propane remaining in the tank rather than guessing. And at six pounds lighter than a steel tank, the Lite is light in more ways than one.

During our recent tests of gas grills, we tried the Lite Cylinder with 30 of the grills in our labs. It’s made of a composite material and then encased in a plastic carrier. We filled three tanks and were able to see the propane level in all cases. But when it came to using the tank with a variety of grills, all was not sweetness and light.

The Lite was compatible with 20 of the grills we tested. But in eight cases, the tank did not work with the grill’s tank retainer bracket. And the tanks did not fit in the grill storage cabinet of two grills—the Lite tank is taller than a standard tank.

While some grills have a fuel level indicator, others don’t. The Lite Cylinder may be a good choice if you tend to forget the last time you purchased propane—and it doesn't rust. But at $90, it cost more than twice as much as a standard steel tank and it must be refilled rather than exchanged each time you need more fuel.