Everything You Need to Know About the SKE Crystal Range

Few vape brands have earned the kind of loyalty SKE Crystal has. The SKE Crystal range became one of the UK's most popular disposable vapes not because of clever marketing, but because the flavours were simply better than the competition: sharper, more accurate, and more consistent from first puff to last. The disposable ban changed the format, but not the flavours. This guide covers what's in the current range, how each device works, and whether SKE or Elf Bar is the right fit for you.

What is the SKE Crystal range?

SKE Crystal sits under Shenzhen Sikarya Technology, a Chinese manufacturer that built its entire UK reputation on one device: the Crystal Bar. The transparent shell made it immediately recognisable on a shelf full of look-alike vapes, and the flavour delivery backed it up. When the UK banned single-use disposable vapes on 1 June 2025, SKE had already done the work of moving the range into rechargeable pod kits. The flavour recipes stayed, it’s just the disposables that didn't.

The current range at Vapourcore includes:

All devices use 20mg nicotine salt and are TPD-compliant.

SKE Crystal vape flavours

Ask most Crystal fans what kept them coming back, and the answer is always the same: the flavours. SKE uses mesh coil technology across the range, which distributes heat more evenly and tends to produce a cleaner, more consistent taste throughout the pod's life. The profiles lean heavily into fruit and ice, and they deliver with more intensity than most competitors at the same price point. If you've tried a Crystal flavour you loved in the old disposable format, you'll find it in exactly the same form across the current range.

Popular flavours include Lemon and Lime, Cherry Ice, Blueberry Sour Raspberry, Kiwi Passion Fruit Guava, Blue Razz Lemonade, Watermelon Ice, Strawberry Raspberry Cherry, Pink Lemonade, Peach Mango Watermelon, Triple Mango, Fizzy Cherry, Fresh Menthol Mojito, Dragon Fruit Peach Melon, Grape Splash, Double Apple, Strawberry Burst, and Fruit Gum.

Availability varies slightly by device, with the Crystal Plus typically offering the widest selection. Browse the full SKE Crystal pod range and SKE Crystal Salts at Vapourcore.

SKE Crystal Plus: How to use it

The Crystal Plus is the most versatile kit in the range, and the one most people start with. It accepts both prefilled Crystal pods and refillable pods for any compatible e-liquid, so you're not locked into one flavour format. The 400mAh battery comfortably handles a full day, firing is draw-activated with no buttons, and an adjustable airflow ring lets you tighten or loosen the draw to suit your preference.

How to use the Crystal Plus with prefilled pods

1. Remove all protective seals and silicone plugs from the pod
2. Insert the pod into the device until it clicks into place
3. Allow a couple of minutes for the coil to prime before your first puff
4. Inhale to activate. No buttons needed

How to refill the Crystal Plus (refillable pods only)

The refillable Crystal Plus pod has a side-fill port accessed by lifting a small rubber bung on the side. Add your chosen e-liquid (50/50 nic salt works best with the 1.1 ohm coil), replace the bung securely, and let the coil prime for 5 to 10 minutes before vaping. Each pod can be filled several times before the coil starts to degrade. A burnt or noticeably weaker taste is your cue to swap it out.

How to change an SKE Crystal Plus pod

Pull the empty pod from the device with a gentle tug, take the new one out of its packaging, remove any stickers and the silicone bung from the mouthpiece, then push it in until it clicks. Give it a minute or two to settle, and you're ready to go.

How to refill the SKE Crystal CL6000

The CL6000 uses a prefilled pod system, so the pods can't be refilled manually. What most people mean by this is how to replace the pod and refill the container once it runs dry. The system is simpler than it sounds:

1. Remove the used pod and refill the container from the device
2. Take the new 2ml pod and 10ml refill container from the packaging and remove the rubber seals from both
3. Click the 2ml pod into the top of the 10ml refill container until they lock together
4. Insert the combined unit into the CL6000 battery device
5. Inhale to activate

The 10ml refill container feeds e-liquid into the pod automatically as you vape, which is what allows the system to reach around 6,000 puffs before needing a swap. The 800mAh battery charges fully in around 30 minutes via USB-C, which is quick enough to sort during a lunch break.

Are the SKE Crystal 4-in-1 pods discontinued?

Yes, and it's a shame. The SKE Crystal 4-in-1 was a clever device: a 950mAh rechargeable kit that held four 2ml prefilled pods on a rotating carousel, letting you switch between four different flavours in the same device without pulling anything apart. It gave you up to 2,400 puffs and was exactly the kind of product that made sense for vapers who couldn't commit to just one flavour. Unfortunately, it's been phased out, along with its pods.

The closest alternative is the Crystal Plus, which supports a wide range of prefilled Crystal flavours and can also be used with refillable pods for even more variety. If puff count is the priority rather than flavour-switching, the CL6000 is the stronger option. 

Browse the current SKE Crystal pod kits at Vapourcore to see what's available now.

SKE Crystal vape vs Elf Bar

These two brands are the ones people compare most often, and for good reason: they've dominated the UK market and appeal to many of the same vapers. But they're better at different things.

Crystal wins on intensity. The mesh coil technology produces a richer, more consistent hit throughout the pod's life, and the flavour profiles are clean and precise without the artificial sweetness that creeps into some of Elf Bar's sweeter options. Elf Bar's real advantage is breadth. The Elfa Pro catalogue is wider, covers more experimental flavour territory, and suits vapers who like switching things up more often.

The straightforward answer is: If you know what Crystal tastes like and want that experience to continue, SKE is the one. If you want more to explore, Elf Bar has a wider menu.

SKE Crystal nic salts

The SKE Crystal Salts bring the same Crystal Bar flavour profiles into 10ml bottles, available in 10mg and 20mg with a 50/50 VG/PG ratio suited to any mouth-to-lung device. If you've moved to a refillable kit and don't want to lose the Crystal flavours you're used to, this is the simplest way to keep them.

The Crystal Salts are specifically formulated to match the taste of the prefilled Crystal range, so if flavour accuracy matters to you, these are the ones to go for. The 50/50 VG/PG ratio is important: anything higher in VG will be too thick for the Crystal Plus's 1.1ohm mesh coil and won't wick properly, which leads to dry hits and a burnt taste. Stick to 50/50 nic salts, and you'll get the same clean, consistent hit you'd expect from a prefilled pod. They work in the Crystal Plus refillable pods or in any compatible low-powered MTL device running at around 10-15W.

Is the SKE Crystal range good for beginners?

Very much so. SKE Crystal built its reputation on being easy to use, and that hasn't changed with the move to pod kits. The Crystal Plus is draw-activated with no buttons, no settings, and no refilling required if you stick with prefilled pods. You plug a pod in, give it a minute or two, and start vaping. The MTL draw feels immediately familiar if you're coming from cigarettes, and the 20mg nicotine salt delivers a smooth, satisfying hit without the harshness that puts a lot of new vapers off.

The CL6000 has slightly more steps initially, but once the pod and refill container are clicked together and inserted into the battery, it's just as straightforward day to day. For a complete beginner, the Crystal Plus is the better starting point. It's smaller, simpler, and gives you more flexibility to experiment with flavours before committing to a higher-puff-count device. 

How long does an SKE Crystal pod last?

It depends on which device you're using and how often you vape, but here's a realistic guide:

The Crystal Plus pod delivers around 600 puffs. For a moderate vaper, that typically works out to one to two days per pod, though lighter users can stretch one to three or four days. The CL6000 delivers up to 6,000 puffs per pod-and-refill combination, which, for most moderate vapers, is between one and two weeks of use before it needs replacing.

You'll know a pod is done when the flavour starts to fade noticeably, vapour production drops off, or you start getting a faint burnt taste. At that point, swap it out. Continuing to draw on a depleted pod doesn't improve things and can quickly make the experience unpleasant.

Shop SKE Crystal at Vapourcore

Browse the full SKE Crystal pod kits range or pick up replacement pods and Crystal Salts at Vapourcore. Not sure which device suits you best? Our stop smoking, start vaping guide is a good place to start, or get in touch via the contact page, and we'll help you find the right kit.