The Geek Bar Spark is a new prefilled pod vape from the makers of the Pulse. The Spark is powered by an 800 mAh battery, holds 2 mL of 2% nicotine eliquid, and utilizes automatic draw and drop-in magnetized pods for an easy-to-use prefilled pod vape with one of the most recognizable names in vaping.
Product intro and specs
The Geek Bar Spark is the latest vape from one of the most recognized names in vaping. Without getting into a history lesson, the name “Geek” is still in the forefront of brand recognition, but is the latest device innovative enough to geek out on? At a glance, it seems more functional, aiming to serve as a reliable, easy-to-use vape rather than any particular innovation. With that said, any vape that performs well beats a wonky but “innovative” device. Always!
At its core, the Spark is a beefy 800 mAh stick battery paired with 2 mL prefilled pods containing 20 mg/mL nicotine. It’s similar in concept to the Geek Bar Elite, although the Elite has a smaller 650 mAh battery. Like the Elite, the Spark is essentially a “disposalike”: a prefilled pod vape designed to mimic TPD-compliant disposables, a new product category that emerged after the UK banned disposable vapes.
The Spark features a battery display, automatic draw, secure and magnetized pods, and a host of flavors. It’s a simple device to use, but might it be too simple to satisfy Geek Bar fans?
Price: TBA
Flavors: Blueberry ice, tropical punch, lemon lime, grape apple, watermelon ice, apple cider, pink lemonade, strawberry lime, blue razz ice, sour apple ice, sour pineapple, pink lemonade, grape apple
Size, look, and feel
The Geek Bar Spark is a prefilled pod vape in a familiar format. It’s effectively a big cig-a-like, featuring drop-in pods, a fairly comfortable hands-free weight (and appropriate mouthpiece style), a battery screen, and nothing else. Sure, it’s got a USB-C port on the bottom, but it’s not the device to look for pizzazz. It is meant to be the device you don’t have to think about. Just put it in your pocket and go.
Its cylindrical size harkens back to old eGo or Janty batteries, just a little bit thicker. It’s got a flat bottom which allows it to stand up on a desk, but I feel it’s mostly at home in the pocket or hand. It comes in various colors, but all with a glossy exterior.
As mentioned, the mouthpiece lets you go hands-free. It extends enough into the mouth, duckbill-style, which makes it easy to clamp down with your side teeth or with your front teeth tucked behind your lips. The weight makes it a little too heavy for the bare front teeth. Regardless, I’m literally vaping on it now as I type.
Getting started
Getting started with the Spark is about as easy as vaping gets, short of using a disposable. In fact, with some disposables now offering more “next-gen” features, the Spark may actually be easier to use than many disposable vapes on the market.
When purchasing the Spark kit, you will receive a battery and pod. The pod packs come with two pods per flavor. When you open up the pods, just remove the bottom grommet and top plug, drop the pod into the battery housing, then puff. There aren’t any electronic or physical adjustments that you can make. It’s ready when you are—nothing to tweak or get right.
How does it hit?
The Spark has a fast-activating mesh coil that engages the second you drag on the mouthpiece. I can imagine it might be startling to new users. It’s immediate! The draw is much looser than a cigarette draw, but still mouth to lung. If you’re new to vaping and you start with a Spark, try a shorter hit and take it from there.
There hasn’t been anything wrong with the hit per se, but there has been something off with clearing the pod of excess vapor. What I mean is, with some vapes, there can be excess vapor stuck in the chamber of the pod after you take a hit. That can adulterate the pod flavor, making subsequent draws taste stale. I’ve noticed this happen with some of the pod flavors in the Spark. I don’t know why it doesn’t happen with them all, nor if this is all in my head (about the flavor adulteration). What I am clear on is the trapped vapor. Just lift a pod up, drop it back in, and you’ll see the wisps of vapor trying to clear from the pod.
Geek Bar Spark best flavors
Geek Bar sort of set the next-gen flavor standard for disposables. Is that the case with prefilled pods? No. However, the flavors are still quite good—just not as impactful as the higher-nicotine variety with more power. Also, the stale taste negatively affected my perception of what I was vaping, though I’ll try to focus on the best times I had with the pods. Of the ones I tried, these are my favorites:
Fresh mint: a spearmint/peppermint type of flavor, with the distinct taste of mint leaf.
Blueberry ice: a sour but bright blueberry taste with an icy blast.
Tropical punch: an aromatic and nostalgic vape with the unmistakable flavor of the sugary fruit drink.
How long does it last?
The battery for the Spark lasts for about two pods. How long that takes you will vary. For me, that was about 24 hours. The thing to remember here is that I don’t have to vape 2 mL max in pods, so my vaping habits will be different. If I were forced to adhere to those restrictions, I could probably make two pods last for three days, meaning a battery could last me that long. Granted, I would hate to have to do that! But still.
Charging the Spark takes about 45 minutes, and you can vape it while it charges.
Pros / Cons
Pros title
Lightweight
Can be vaped hands-free
Easy to use
Wide variety of flavors
Pods are held in securely
Can see juice levels with see-through pods
Cons title
Flavor can taste stale
Gallery
Verdict
When I got the Spark, I was stoked! Any device with the brand Geek Bar behind it should be a good vape! And frankly, the Spark is a good vape. The hit is immediate, the flavor is solid, and it fits nicely in the hand or pocket. But there’s a thing that happens at some point where the flavor just stops being good. It doesn’t get especially bad, but I started disposing of the pods way before they were empty.
Then it occurred to me that I was looking for that fresh taste of a new pod. With only 2 mL, I think there’s simply not enough real estate for a flavor drop-off to be acceptable. For that reason, I’m stopping short of a positive recommendation. However, I do NOT recommend AGAINST getting the Geek Bar Spark. I still use mine. It’s just that, from a flavor perspective, it’s not as reliable as I would expect from this brand.
Neutral recommendation.