The Crystal Bar has evolved
In this article...
When SKE launched the Crystal Bar, it became one of the most popular disposable vapes on the market. With single use vapes now banned, the SKE Bar 15K fills the gap left by these devices.
Instead of changing what made Crystal Bar so good, SKE has taken the same flavours and wrapped them up in a pod kit that delivers up to 15,000 puffs. The result is a device that feels familiar, with all the convenience reusable pods bring.
I’ve spent time using the SKE Bar 15K to see if it can live up to its predecessors name. Does it deliver? Or is it just another big puff vape making big promises?
Thankfully, first impressions were positive.
SKE Bar 15K Core Features
Before I get to the detail, here’s a quick view of what the SKE Bar 15K offers:
- Up to 15,000 puffs
- Rechargeable 850mAh battery
- 2ml prefilled pod & 10ml refill container
- Genuine Crystal Bar flavours
- Mesh coil technology
- Smart battery display
- Transparent refill pods
- Auto refill system
- Inhale activated
- 26 flavours
The concept is simple. You keep the battery and replace the pod once empty, making it more practical long term than using disposables.
First Impressions
Right away, the SKE Bar 15K feels like a polished product.
It’s a bit taller than a disposable vape, which isn’t a surprise considering the larger e-liquid capacity. But it still slips easily into a pocket without feeling bulky.
The rounded edges sit comfortably in your hand, while the transparent body seems to do a good job of hiding inevitable fingerprints that glossy devices often get after a few days use.
I really liked the styling too. It keeps the same same Crystal Bar design most people will recognise. The coloured inner body sits behind a transparent outer shell. It looks premium without being over the top.
Unlike some pod kits, the SKE Bar lets you see exactly how much liquid is left at a glance. It’s a small detail, but I appreciate anything that makes life easier.
Inside the box we have:
- 1 x SKE Bar 15K battery
- 1 x 2ml prefilled pod
- 1 x 10ml refill container
- User manual
It all feels well packaged, with little setup needed before you can vape.
Getting Started With the SKE Bar 15K
If you’ve ever used a disposable before, you’ll have no issue getting to grips with the SKE Bar.
Assembly is incredibly straightforward.
After taking off the seals and stickers, the refill container just clicks into the prefilled pod. Once that’s done you just need to slide it into the battery.
It fits well and everything lines up exactly as it should. Once assembled, there’s nothing else you need to do.
There are no menus, wattage settings to adjust or buttons to press. Simply inhale and the device will activate automatically.
Because the pods arrive prefilled, the mesh coil is already soaked with liquid, meaning no waiting around before taking a vape.
In short, its exactly the kind of straightforward experience disposable users are looking for when moving to a reusable kit.
Using the SKE Bar 15K
This is where the SKE Bar comes into its own.
The auto draw is quick, reliable and produces vapour almost instantly each time.
The mouth-to-lung inhale feels natural without being too restrictive. It’s loose enough to be comfortable but still has the same sensation disposable users prefer.
Flavour-wise, it’s exactly what you’d expect from SKE.
You’ll recognise the same intense flavours right away. The mesh coil delivers consistent performance throughout the life of the pod. I didn’t notice any drop off as the liquid level went down, which is great.
The auto refill system did its job well in the background. The 10ml refill container constantly feeds into the 2ml pod, meaning there’s no manual top ups or dry hits to worry about.
Anyone looking for a hassle free vape, that’s arguably the SKE Bar’s biggest strength.
Battery Life
The SKE Bar uses an 850mAh rechargeable battery which, on paper, isn’t the largest available in the big puff category.
In practise though, I thought it performed better than the numbers suggested.
Throughout my typical working day, i rarely found myself reaching for a charger before the evening. Regular users should easily get through a full day, while light users would stretch that even further.
Of course, chain vapers will drain the battery more quickly, but that’s true of any rechargeable pod kit available.
Charging uses USB-C, and was pleasingly quick, meaning even when the battery does run low you aren’t waiting long to be back vaping again.
Smart Display Screen
Rather than wonder how much power you’ve got left, the battery display has you covered. It gives you a clear indication every time you use the device.
It’s bright enough to read easily without being distracting. It also blends neatly into the overall design and doesn’t take up much space.
I found myself glancing at it more than I expected. It’s one of those features you don’t realise you use until you go back to a device that doesn’t have one.
Transparent Pod Design
One of the simplest design choices also happens to be my favourite.
The transparent refill pod makes it really easy to keep an eye on your remaining liquid. Instead of being caught short with an empty pod halfway through the day, you can quickly see when it’s time to get a fresh pack of SKE Bar 15K pods.
This, paired with the auto refill system, makes the whole thing feel more refined than earlier big puff kits.
After using this kit for a while, it’s difficult to imagine going back to using a pod that hides the liquid from you.
SKE Bar 15K Prefilled Pods
One of the biggest improvements the SKE Bar 15K brings over disposable vapes is what happens when you reach the end of your pod.
Instead of throwing the whole device away, you just replace it with a fresh pack of SKE Bar Prefilled Pods and carry on using the same battery.
Each replacement pack includes a 2ml prefilled pod and a 10ml refill container. This gives you the same 15,000 puffs as the pod supplied with the original kit.
You’ll also be glad to know changing the pods is very easy.
Remove the pod, peel off any stickers or seals, click the refill container into place and slide it back into the battery. Within a minute you’re ready to vape again.
As you vape, liquid is constantly fed from the 10ml refill container into the 2ml pod. There’s no manual refills, no squeezing bottles into annoyingly small fill ports, and no mess; perfect!
Also, because each replacement pack includes a new mesh coil, it feels like a new vape every time. Flavour is crisp, vapour is consistent with no obvious drop off in flavour.
I love how simple it all is. It’s probably the closest you can get to a single use device without actually using one.
Flavour Performance
SKE built its reputation on flavour, so my expectations were naturally high.
Thankfully, the SKE Bar 15K delivers exactly what existing Crystal Bar fans will be hoping for.
The flavours are bold and consistent throughout the life of the pod. The mesh coil heats evenly, helping every puff feel as good as the last.
Instead of picking apart every flavour, I want to talk about the range as a whole.
Fruit flavours are where SKE continues to outperform. Blueberry Sour Raspberry, Kiwi Passion Fruit Guava and Watermelon Strawberry are punchy profiles that remind us why Crystal Bars were so popular.
If you prefer cooler vapes, then Cola Ice, Cherry Ice and Berry Ice are good shouts.
For something sweet, Strawberry Hubbla Bubbla, Gami Rare and Strawberry Burst bring those candy-inspired flavours to the table.
Some big puff vapes start off great before losing intensity halfway through. I never really got that here. Thanks to the auto refill and mesh coil, I felt the flavour stayed on point until the pod was ready to be changed.
Would I Recommend The SKE Bar 15K?
Without hesitation.
The SKE Bar 15K succeeds because it walks the path of ‘less is more’, and I agree.
It takes the Crystal Bar and builds on it in all the right places. The flavours are excellent, the auto refill works like a dream and replacing the pods takes less than a minute.
The transparent pod, battery display and overall design help to elevate it above a lot of the competition.
The only thing that detracts from it is the battery. It is perfectly adequate rather than exceptional. Most people will get through the day, but heavy vapers may find themselves plugging it in during the evening.
That said, USB-C charging is fast, so it rarely feels like an inconvenience.
Ultimately, the SKE Bar 15K is exactly what many disposable users have been asking for since the ban; a reusable device that delivers the same flavour, simplicity with a longer lifespan. Plus, at only £7.99 for the kit, you would be hard pressed to find something else for such great value.
