Now the single use vape ban is live, we are seeing the shape of the future of vaping, and it turns out once again we have proved our resilience yet again. No matter what gets thrown at the vape industry, somehow, it always bounces back stronger than ever, and with that strength comes evolution, and I have to say, this is a change for the better. You see we are now seeing the next step from traditional single use products, a blight on the streets everywhere thanks to their disposable nature to rechargeable devices with user replaceable pods which are super user friendly and still have the same intense flavour as their early counterparts. We have already looked at a few different brands, but this is one of the big ones as this time round we take a look at the brand new SKE bar.
SKE have been consistently big hitters in the prefilled vape world for quite some time now, and every product we have had in from them has scored very highly thanks to their world class flavour. It was only a matter of time before they came out swinging, and they are definitely punching above their weight with this latest incarnation of their classic vape kit. If you already love SKE flavours, you can pretty much stop reading here (well you can, but I’d be delighted if you stick around), as you will already know what SKE are capably of producing. But if you are new to the latest breed of prefilled pod kits, buckle up, this is going to be a fun ride.
Unboxing
As I have become accustomed to, the SKE Bar packaging looks just like any single use kit, although the box is a little longer. Other than that, it instantly feels familiar and non-threatening so making the switch from the old to the new will be a gentle experience.
Inside you will find a tear to open packet which keeps the device fresh and hygienic. Ripping the top open gives you access to the kit, and I have to admit, at first I was confused. I thought there had been some sort of mistake as The SKE bar looks exactly like a disposable, so much so that I thought I had been sent some old stock by mistake. I was just about to contact SKE when I figured I would pull off the sticker on the base, and low and behold, there was a USB-C charging port!
Now I was happy that this was indeed the correct device, I checked it out a bit more thoroughly and this led to a little more confusion on my part. If it was rechargeable, then it should also have user replaceable pods, but it looks like it is a one piece kit, everything is neatly put together under a transparent plastic outer body. But looking carefully at the base, I noticed a couple of cut outs, and giving them a gentle squeeze with my fingernails freed the outer body and the pod from the battery section. It is a really smart design, but I do have some mild concerns that it is too well put together. If fact just today I came across one out in the wild, randomly discarded like an old disposable. I don’t know if this was down to laziness or the owner wasn’t aware that this is a rechargeable, replaceable kit. A quick look at the instructions would prevent any confusion, but most people buying one if these from their local corner shop probably won’t be checking first. That would be a terrible shame as the replacement pods are really cheap, and I hate the thought of people throwing away good money!
The Flavours
I was sent a massive sixteen flavours to review, but the full range is much bigger. In fact, at thirty five flavours to choose from, I think this is one of the most extensive ranges of any vaping product yet! But I guess it wasn’t too hard to bring over their e-liquid expertise.
Fruit Medley – This is a surprisingly multi layered mixed fruit flavour, in which no flavour particularly stands out but all blended together, it becomes a delightfully tropical flavour explosion.
Watermelon Strawberry – The two flavours work really well together, equally strong which is quite a surprise seeing as watermelon can be a much milder profile. It is sweet but refreshing thanks to the light iced hint.
Blueberry Cherry Cranberry – Once again, each fruit manages to find its own space whilst at the same time they come together to become something unique. The blueberry is typically floral, the cherry gives things a rich smoothness, and the cranberry finishes things off with a tart, slightly dry feel. It is a really nice mix.
Blue Razz Lemonade – I love the lemonade; it really does sparkle! The blue razz mixes things up giving a sweet counterpoint to the tangy lemon. The combination is quite addictive.
Blueberry Raspberries – You can’t really go wrong with a blend of berries, and these are two which go together particularly well. It is rich and quite decadent.
Cola Ice – This is very icy, it almost takes your breath away. The cola is very strong, so this is a pretty full on flavour.
Sour Pineapple - This is a really satisfying pineapple, thick, warm and rich, but the sour tang kicks in and turns things on its head. I love pineapple, and I really love the extra twist SKE have thrown in here.
Menthol – Wowser this is fresh! Initially it hits hard, but on the exhale you get a sweet mint blast. It is fresh and it only gets fresher the more you vape.
Fizzy Cherry – SKE really have nailed the fizzy effect, it tingles and dances on your tastebuds. It works really well with the sweet, delicious cherry. In a strong line up, this is one of my favourites.
Lemon Lime – Another bold flavour, bursting with all of the citrus juiciness you could possibly want. Again, the balance between zesty sharpness and smooth sweetness is spot on, making this a top class lemon lime mix.
Berry Ice – There is a lot to unpack here, there is so much complexity to the mix of berries. It could almost be too much if it wasn’t for the ice kick that cuts through and brings everything together.
Cherry Ice – The cherry isn’t quite as strong this time round, maybe tempered by the ice. It is still a very good cherry, but for me, I would choose the fizzy version. But having a couple of great cherry flavours in the range can only be a good thing, especially when they are both as good as these.
Strawberry Burst – This is very sweet, more of a jam than a freshly picked fruit. This is not a bad thing at all, and it really works in this style of vape. But it is definitely going to suit those seeking a sugar rush!
Watermelon Ice – Finally a flavour I am not personally keen on! Impressive it has taken this long, and that is no reflection of the vape, more a testament to SKE’s flavour mastery! It is seriously supercharged watermelon, nothing subtle here! Fans of watermelon will go mad for this, it just isn’t for me.
Blueberry Sour Raspberry – We already know that SKE can mix a mean blueberry and raspberry, so sticking them together was always going to be a winner. I love the combination of sweet and sour, and you get plenty of bother here.
Strawberry Raspberry – One final massive berry hit to round things off. Once again, we get the super sweet strawberry, and the raspberry makes a welcome appearance to sharpen things up. Again, this is going to be more suitable for the sweet toothed among us, it does get a bit sickly after a while.
Final Thoughts
The flavours here are exceptional, although you wouldn’t expect anything less from SKE. They have proved time and time again that they really understand flavour. Stick this in a fully rechargeable, user replaceable pod kit, and they are really on to a winner.
My only complaint is that they have done too good a job at replicating the disposables they are replacing. If it was up to me, I would like to see a clearer explanation on the box to make it obvious that the SKE Bar has been designed to be used and reused many times over. I don’t want to see any more unnecessary vape waste littering the streets.
Many thanks to SKE for sending the SKE Bars in for review.
- Buckets of flavour
- Rechargeable
- User replaceable pods
- Not clear that these are reusable
Michelle (Purplefowler)
Reviewer at POTVWhen her usual forum closed, Michelle found herself in a brave new world full of excitement that something fresh and new was happening. A few days later she somehow found herself on the moderating team and is still not really sure how that happened. Even stranger, she slowly worked her way up to admin and now helps behind the scenes, liasing with vendors and coordinating social media but she can still be found making smutty comments on the forum. If all that wasn't enough, she also is a proud member of the Potv review team specialising in E-liquid reviews for the discerning vaper.
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