How to use the SKE Bar pod kit: first puff, pod release and charging

The SKE Bar pod kit contains the device, one SKE Bar prefilled pod and a user manual. The pod holds 2ml of 20mg nic salt with a built-in mesh coil and is good for up to 600 puffs.

The device has a 500mAh built-in battery, which most vapers will find lasts the day, and a fixed 11W output. It is 10cm tall, 1.7cm square and weighs 32g, so it disappears into a pocket.

There is no USB-C cable in the box. Any standard USB-C lead in good condition will do the job.

Thanks to the buttonless design, setting up an SKE Bar means removing it from the packaging and inhaling on the mouthpiece. The pod is already fitted, the coil is already soaked, and the draw activates the device.

Expect an authentic MTL draw with a low level of vapour, much like a disposable. A gentle pull of two or three seconds suits it far better than a sharp gasp, which can draw liquid into your mouth.

Keep an eye on the small LED on the base. It is the only feedback the device gives, and it is the one that tells you when to charge.

When the liquid runs out, press the buttons on the base of the device to release the pod, then slide it off and replace it with a new one. Push the new pod on until it sits firmly and you are ready to go again.

Do this over a table rather than a pavement grate: the pods are small and the release can be enthusiastic the first time you try it.

Replacement pods come in a big flavour range, from Blue Razz Lemonade and Cherry Ice to Tobacco and Menthol, all in the SKE Crystal pod range.

Every SKE Bar pod is 20mg salt nicotine. Salt nicotine gives a smoother throat hit than freebase at the same strength, which is why high strengths are comfortable in small MTL devices. Nicotine is addictive, so 20mg is best for people who already vape at that level.

The pods are prefilled and cannot be refilled. If you like a flavour enough to want it in a refillable device, SKE's Crystal Original e-liquids recreate the disposable range in bottles.

Ice blends are a big part of the SKE line-up; Watermelon Ice and Mango Ice are popular starting points.

• LED blinking and no vapour: the battery needs charging. Plug in a USB-C cable and give it time.
• New pod will not fire: it is not fully seated. Release it with the base buttons, check the contacts are dry, and slide it back on firmly.
• Taste turning weak or burnt: the pod is close to empty. Swap it rather than squeezing out the last few puffs.

For a longer-lived battery, avoid draining it to nothing every day and keep the kit away from heat. A fully flat lithium cell left for weeks can lose capacity for good.

The SKE Bar is for disposable users who want a reusable battery with zero learning curve. It has no buttons to press while vaping, no settings and no filling, and it holds a bit more charge than the Crystal Plus.

It is not for anyone who wants to choose their own e-liquid or nicotine strength, since pods are 20mg only. For a refillable option from the same brand, the Crystal Plus accepts refillable pods.

Want more puffs between changes? A big puff kit like the IVG Pro 12 carries 12ml per refill.