SKE BAR 15K Review: The Perfect Replacement for Disposables?

Design & Build Quality

The SKE BAR 15K follows the tall, slim form factor that is common in both pre-filled and refillable pod systems. It is a bit chunkier than some pod vapes, but that is mainly due to the volume of space its 15K puff capacity requires. The device stands at 115mm tall and is 27mm wide, which are good dimensions for a comfortable grip. If you are someone who finds ultra slim vapes a bit delicate and fiddly to hold, you’ll be much happier with the SKE BAR 15K in your hand.

If you have used SKE devices before, the “crystal” design of the SKE BAR 15K should be very familiar. It is very much SKE’s calling card and makes it very easy to identify devices from the brand. Inside the sculpted transparent shell is a metal case that hides all of the electronics and other components. This metal case is colored to reflect the flavor of the e-liquid inside (although that’s only true if using the pod and tank that comes with the kit and not an alternative flavor refill), e.g., the Blueberry Sour Raspberry flavor is colored blue and purple/red.

Despite the largely plastic construction, the device feels extremely solid and well-made. I didn’t test how strong it is by flinging it across the room or anything, but I am fairly certain that it could handle any number of accidental drops and falls with no problems beyond a few scratches and scrapes.

The pod sits deeply inside the body and is secured by two pleasingly strong magnets. It feels very secure, which is a feeling that is reinforced by the shaped base of the pod, preventing it from spinning within the socket.

Features

The SKE BAR 15K is a relatively simple pod system. The main features are the pod and tank system, the battery display screen, and that’s about it. I’m not saying that this is a bad thing either, because if a vape works well with only a few features, why add more just for the sake of it?

Let’s start with that pod and tank system. The SKE BAR 15K kit comprises a battery section, a pod that is pre-filled with 2ml of e-liquid (and also contains the heating element), and a separate pre-filled tank containing 10ml of the same e-liquid. The pod and tank have to be snapped together, and then the combined unit is inserted into the battery section.

As you vape, the 2ml in the pod is used first. When it is empty (or very close to empty), a clever auto-fill system draws liquid from the 10ml tank to refill the pod. This is repeated until both the pod and the tank are empty, at which point you can buy and insert a new pod and tank (available separately, without having to rebuy the entire kit). It’s a really good system, as once the pod and tank are clipped together, refills happen without you noticing and are completely mess-free.

The only other feature of this device is the digital battery readout. Now, at one point in time, having a digital display on this type of pre-filled pod system would be pretty unique, but while it still isn’t the norm, more and more of this type of vape are including some sort of display. The display on the SKE BAR 15K is pretty simple, just showing the remaining battery power, but it’s definitely useful to have.

Flavors

The SKE BAR 15K is available in 16 different flavors and flavor combinations. That isn’t the widest range I’ve ever encountered in this type of vape, but it is pretty good. The flavors comprise a nice mix of familiar favorites as well as some more unique blends, including Cola Ice, Fizzy Cherry, Pineapple Ice, Strawberry Burst, and Lemon & Lime.

I was fortunate enough to be sent every flavor to test over the last couple of weeks. Here are my five favorites of those flavors. Keep in mind that just because I like a flavor, that does not mean that you will like it, and vice versa. This is solely my subjective opinion.

Blueberry Sour Raspberry

This was the first of the SKE BAR 15K flavors that I tried, and even after working my way through a dozen others, it was the one I returned to most consistently. It combines the rich taste of blueberry with the freshness of raspberry, all mixed with a delightfully sharp and sour note.

Fresh Menthol Mojito

Methol-based flavors are always a bit hit and miss for me, but this one is very much a hit. The mint element is quite sweet (which is generally not something I enjoy), but also refreshing. This is enhanced by notes of lime and “fizziness” that are definitely reminiscent of soda. I would happily hit this menthol vape all day, every day.

Kiwi Passion Fruit Guava

If you like fruity vapes, you would be hard-pressed not to enjoy this one. The combination of passion fruit and guava is intensely fruity, and then the more subtle kiwi flavor comes in. It is sweet, but not overpoweringly so, and it is so fresh and fruity that I could forgive almost any amount of sugary notes.

Lemon & Lime

Like menthol, lemon &  lime vapes can be a bit hit and miss for me. They are often too sweet for my taste buds, which is often more noticeable because I always expect a sharper, more tangy hit. This lemon & lime is, for me, almost perfect. It combines sweet, sharp, and refreshing notes in a way that easily elevated it onto my favorites list.

Fizzy Cherry

If you are a fan of cherries like me, choosing the Fizzy Cherry flavor will likely be a no-brainer. The Cherry Ice is also very nice, but this is better. The tangy red cherry flavor comes through really well, but is nicely tempered by the sweeter soda notes that are layered on top of it.

How They Vape

As with most, if not all, of this type of device, the SKE BAR 15K is designed for MTL vaping. It simply does not have the power, airflow, or low-resistance coil needed to provide any other vaping experience. The draw is not super-tight, but it is also not too loose for a satisfying MTL puff. There is no airflow slider, but there are two fixed airflow holes on the base, which can be covered with a finger if a tighter draw is desired. Doing this definitely makes a difference.

The mesh coil inside the pod seems to work really well. It fires efficiently and provides consistent flavor throughout each draw, no matter how long or strong it is. As the coil is essentially single-use (or rather, limited-use), there isn’t likely to be a problem with the coil failing over time. I certainly didn’t have any problems with coil failure in the ones I tested, and I used a couple of the SKE BAR 15K’s until the tank was completely empty.

The process of snapping the pod and tank together is simple and works exceptionally well. The whole pod and tank setup is honestly great. It is like having a 2ml capacity vape and a 10ml refill bottle in your pocket, except the bottle is attached to the vape and refilling is automatic. When the tank is empty, choose and buy another flavor refill, and away you go.

The battery lasts reasonably well considering the fact that it is only 850mAh. If I had to say one bad thing about the SKE BAR 15K, it is that I would have liked to see a bigger battery. But 850mAh is hardly underpowered when compared to similar pod systems like this, and a full charge is easily capable of providing a couple of days of vaping unless you are a very heavy user. Charging through the USB Type-C port is pretty quick, with an average recharge time of around 35 minutes from empty.

Verdict

I have used many SKE devices in the past, and have been happy with almost every one. But after two weeks of use, I have to say that the SKE BAR 15K could be the best yet. It provides almost everything you could want from this type of device, and it does so competently, reliably, and without fuss.

With the combination of pod and tank providing up to 15000 puffs, each kit or refill should last the average vaper a week or more. I obviously didn’t count every puff each device provided, but I would guess that the claim of 12ml of liquid providing around 15000 puffs is pretty fair. Importantly, the system that connects the pod and tank, and the way it automatically refills, is fuss-free and convenient. It isn’t a gimmick; it’s a quality-of-life feature that really works.

The flavor range is fairly varied and overwhelmingly tasty. There are no super-unique flavors, and they are mostly fruit-based (no tobacco flavors, for example), but I had no real issues with any of them. The Blueberry Sour Raspberry and Fresh Menthol Mojito flavors were my pick of the crop, but I could also happily vape the Lemon & Lime and Kiwi Passion Fruit Guava all day, too.

If you are looking for a reusable big-puff replacement for disposables, but one that retains similar flavor profiles, ease-of-use, and cost-effectiveness, the SKE BAR 15K should be firmly placed near or at the top of your list.