Welcome to our review of the TIDEBAR ICEWAVE X8500 disposable vape, the latest release from ZOVOO. Sort of …
TIDEBAR are a subsidiary of ZOVOO, who themselves are a branch of Voopoo and ICEWAVE appears to be the actual brand name.
We’ve reviewed several fantastic ZOVOO products in the past – the Dragbar B6500 and the Dragbar Z 700 SE spring to mind!
However, this is the first TIDEBAR or ICEWAVE disposable we’ve tested and (spoiler alert!) it’s impressive to say the least.
Advertised as the very first disposable with an “ultra-large” display screen, the ICEWAVE X8500 is a multi-day disposable vape with a massive 18ml e-juice capacity, a 600mAh rechargeable battery and 16 delicious flavors to choose from!
The ICEWAVE X8500 is only available in a 50mg (5%) nicotine strength, so it might not be for everybody. On the other hand, if you’ve recently ditched the analogues and you’re looking for a disposable that packs a punch, this might just be the perfect disposable for you.
At Vaping Hardware we’re on a mission to help our readers find the best disposable vape regardless of your budget or vaping preference. So without further ado, let’s get stuck into the full ICEWAVE X8500 disposable review and see if it deserves a place on the list.
I’d like to quickly thank Hillary at ICEWAVE for sending me the ICEWAVE X8500 disposables to review. As always, this review is completely unbiased and only contains my honest opinions on the product. This post may also contain affiliate links. If you purchase the product through our link, we may receive a small commission (at no extra cost to you!) which helps us to keep the site running.
TIDEBAR ICEWAVE X8500 Disposable Vape Review
Contents
- Features and Specifications
- What’s in the Box?
- ICEWAVE X8500 | Design and Appearance
- ICEWAVE X8500 | Performance
- ICEWAVE X8500 | Flavors
- ICEWAVE X8500 | Price
- ICEWAVE X8500 | Verdict
Features and Specifications
Dimensions: 105mm (Height) x 39mm (Width) x 22mm (Depth)
Weight: 63g
Display Screen (Remaining E-Juice & Battery)
E-Juice Capacity: 18ml
PG/VG Ratio: Not Specified
Nicotine Strength: 50mg Nic Salt E-Juice
Draw-activated
8500 Puff Capacity
16 Different Flavors
Battery: Internal Rechargeable Battery (600mAh)
USB Type-C Charging Port (0.5A)
Coil Resistance: 1ohm
Coil Type: Not Specified
Output Power: Not Specified
Material: Polycarbonate
LED Puff Indicator
What’s in the Box?
In terms of packaging, the design will be pretty familiar if you’ve ever bought a disposable before. The ICEWAVE X8500 comes in a rectangular box made out of thin card, color coded to match the flavor of the disposable inside.
On the front, there’s a picture of the ICEWAVE X8500 disposable, along with the flavor name, nicotine strength and puff capacity. In addition to this, there’s also the usual nicotine warning on the front and reverse of the packaging.
On the left facing side of the box, there’s a bunch of other warnings relating to age restrictions, vaping while pregnant etc.
The right facing side of the packaging displays the ICEWAVE name, the flavor name and a QR code you can scan to check the ICEWAVE X8500 you’ve bought is authentic.
Finally, on the reverse of the box you can find the e-juice capacity, nicotine strength, number of puffs and e-juice ingredients. You’ll also find a brief set of product instructions, the manufacturer details (ZOVOO) and the ICEWAVE social media handles and URL address.
Overall I think ICEWAVE have done a great job with the packaging design – it’s sleek, bold and colorful with almost all the information you’d possibly need to know clearly displayed.
I say almost because the PG/VG ratio isn’t displayed on the packaging. It’s not a major problem, but I suffer from a mild PG Intolerance and it would be nice to know how much PG is used in the e-juice.
Inside the box is a sealed, clear plastic wrapper protecting the ICEWAVE X8500 disposable.
Just tear open the wrapper and remove the ICEWAVE X8500 disposable. Finally, before you’re ready to vape you’ll need to peel off the sticker from the base of the disposable …
… and remove the silicone plug from the mouthpiece.
You don’t need to charge the ICEWAVE X8500 as it comes pre-charged and ready to vape, so once you’ve removed the sticker and plug you’re good to go.
ICEWAVE X8500 | Design and Appearance
In terms of design and appearance, the ICEWAVE X8500 impressed me right out of the gate. It’s slightly larger than some of the other disposables we’ve reviewed recently, but it’s still surprisingly compact for a multi-day device with a whopping 18ml e-juice capacity!
Measuring 105mm in height, 39mm in width and 22mm in depth, the ICEWAVE X8500 is compact enough to fit comfortably in your hand and it won’t take up too much space in your pocket or bag.
It’s also surprisingly lightweight for a multi-day disposable, weighing in at just 63g. I travel frequently for work, which means I need to carry a spare vape around with me and the ICEWAVE X8500 is perfect in that regard. I’ve got two in my pocket as I write this and they’re barely noticeable thanks to the compact and lightweight design.
Not to labor the point, but considering the ICEWAVE X8500 holds a mammoth 18ml of e-juice and a 600mAh rechargeable battery, I’m seriously impressed they managed to fit it all into such a compact design.
TIDEBAR (or ZOVOO, or ICEWAVE – whoever you are!) have designed the ICEWAVE X8500 as a simple, easy to use disposable with minimal fuss. It’s auto-draw, with no controls or firing button to mess about with and the auto-draw function was flawless across all of the disposables I tested.
The main body of the ICEWAVE X8500 (approximately two-thirds of the total length) is clear polycarbonate, with a small indent at each corner and a single, larger indent running vertically. Underneath the polycarbonate shell, the ICEWAVE is covered in graffiti-esque artwork that gives it a quirky, unique and modern look.
In terms of branding, the ICEWAVE X8500 is far from subtle, with ‘ICEWAVE’ and the flavor name printed several times under the polycarbonate shell and on the reverse of the black display screen which we’ll talk about more in a second.
Usually this sort of over-branding would look tacky but the ICEWAVE X8500 actually manages to pull it off and the end result is a funky, well-designed and eye-catching disposable.
The mouthpiece at the top of the ICEWAVE X8500 is also polycarbonate and protrudes approximately 14mm. ICEWAVE have opted for a duck-billed design and it’s super comfortable to vape on.
The bottom of the ICEWAVE X8500 (the remaining one-third of the total length) is made from black plastic, with a reflective silver pattern design on one side and ‘ICEWAVE’ on the other. On the underside of this section you’ll find a single airflow hole and the Type-C USB charging port.
Interestingly, the ICEWAVE X8500 doesn’t feature an LED puff indicator …
What it does feature however, is a large display screen indicating how much e-juice and battery charge you have remaining!
The display screen is built into the front-facing side of the black plastic section, within the reflective silver pattern directly above the three arrows in the below picture.
It’s the standout feature (and advertising focus!) of the ICEWAVE X8500 and I think it really sets it apart from the other multi-day disposables on the market!
My pictures don’t do it justice, but the display screen is bright and easy to read, lighting up briefly every time you take a puff, so you know exactly how much battery and e-juice you have left.
The remaining battery life is displayed as a percentage on the left, while the remaining e-juice level is situated on the right and displayed in an oval, tear drop shape with different color lines indicating how much juice you have left.
The display screen also stays lit while the ICEWAVE X8500 is charging, until you’re at 100% at which point the display screen will switch off.
Charging is easy and quick – just plug a USB cable (not included) into the Type-C USB charging port and connect it to a suitable power outlet.
A full charge of the 600mAh battery takes roughly 45 minutes – pretty fast all things considered.
My only issue with the design is the fact the ICEWAVE X8500 doesn’t support pass-through vaping, which means you won’t be able to vape it while it’s on charge.
The lack of pass-through vaping isn’t a major issue, but I’m pretty impatient and 45 minutes seems like forever when you’re desperate for a puff!
Overall though I’m really impressed with the ICEWAVE X8500 design – It’s sleek, modern and unique, with plenty of color and funky artwork to boot!
The fact it holds a huge 18ml of e-juice and yet remains so incredibly compact and lightweight is just the icing on the cake!
ICEWAVE X8500 | Performance
In terms of performance, the ICEWAVE X8500 is equally impressive.
However, it’s not perfect (nothing is right?) so I’ll start with the single issue I do have, which is the airflow or ‘draw’.
The ICEWAVE X8500 has a fairly loose MTL (mouth-to-lung) draw and personally I prefer slightly tighter airflow to replicate the feeling of smoking a cigarette. In this case, the airflow allows for a somewhat airy draw, not too far removed from a RDTL (restricted-direct-to-lung) draw.
Unfortunately the airflow isn’t adjustable either, which would have resolved this issue for me completely.
Having said that, airflow preference is exactly that; a subjective preference. For every vaper that enjoys a tight MTL draw, there are just as many that prefer a slightly less restrictive draw. Just food for thought …
Aside from that minor issue, I’m not exaggerating when I say I love absolutely everything else about the ICEWAVE X8500!
The throat hit and nicotine delivery are fantastic, with a satisfying kick every time you take a puff. You’ll know you’re vaping 50mg/ml nicotine salt but it’s not too harsh, even when chain vaping.
The vapor production is above average for a short two-second puff, with a decent plume of thick, warm vapor produced. If you’ve ever vaped a disposable, you’re well aware you won’t be winning any cloud-chasing competitions but the ICEWAVE X8500 produces more than enough of the white stuff for the average vaper.
The flavor output is superb, even for a disposable. The ICEWAVE X8500 is available in a total of 16 different flavors, and those that I tested were all full-bodied, well-blended and bursting with flavor. I’d expected as much, because ZOVOO products always perform excellently in the flavor department.
The real standout feature for me though was the lifespan of the ICEWAVE X8500.
If you vape frequently throughout the day like I do, the 600mAh battery will last you around a day and a half before it needs to be recharged. Keep in mind this is based on heavy use as my vape is never far from my hand during the 14ish hours I’m awake during the day.
What really blew me away though was the actual lifespan of the ICEWAVE X8500. I’ll be totally honest and admit I didn’t count the number of puffs I took, but every disposable they sent me lasted over 13 days!
A casual or moderate vaper could well squeeze significantly longer out of a single ICEWAVE X8500. Considering the price (which we’ll talk about later) this is amazing value for money and it’s easily my favorite thing about the ICEWAVE X8500.
Finally, I’d initially expected the display screen to be a gimmicky advertising ploy to sell the ICEWAVE X8500, but I actually found it super helpful! So much so, that I’m wondering why it’s not included as a standard feature on every multi-day disposable!
I’m sure you can tell by now but I’m really impressed with the performance on offer with the ICEWAVE X8500. Yes the airflow is slightly less restrictive than I personally prefer, but the X8500 gets everything else right and it’s hard not to fall in love with this disposable!
ICEWAVE X8500 | Flavors
The ICEWAVE X8500 is currently available in a total of 16 different flavors:
- Ribena
- Sour Apple
- Blue Razz Ice
- Peach Ice
- Fresh Mint
- Mango Ice
- Strawberry Kiwi
- Lush Ice
- Blackberry Ice
- Honeydew Watermelon
- Clear
- Cherry Cola
- Strawberry Banana
- Strawberry Ice Cream
- Vanilla Casta Tobacco
- Sakura Grape
As you can see, it’s a pretty varied flavor range and it’s great to see a tobacco blend and a menthol option included.
The team at ICEWAVE kindly sent us 5 of their flavors to test, so I’ll do my best to describe each of them below …
Blue Razz Ice
A ‘must-have’ flavor in any disposable range, the Blue Razz Ice is a delicious blend of sharp blueberries, sweet raspberries and an icy menthol blast.
The combination of the sweet raspberries and tart blueberries works perfectly and it’s a flavor I can easily vape all day.
The icy kick isn’t overpowering like you get with so many other disposables on the market, and although it’s a flavor recipe that’s been done to death, it’s still a delicious flavor nonetheless.
Lush Ice
Lush Ice is a mouth-watering blend of juicy watermelon, sweet berries and a touch of minty freshness on the inhale.
It’s not specifically listed as a note, but I also taste a strong strawberry flavor note in this!
It’s a perfect flavor for the hot weather or those that like fruity or menthol based e-juice. Definitely a flavor I could vape all day – in fact I found it hard to put this one down!
Sour Apple
Sour Apple is a blend of sharp, green apple with a sweet undertone and a strong tangy bite.
I didn’t think I’d enjoy this flavor as I don’t usually like anything sour, but this one really surprised me!
The balance of sour and sweet is perfect and it leaves a delicious aftertaste that lingers long after your last puff.
Clear
The Clear flavor option was my least favorite of the 5 we tested …
It’s listed as a ‘neutral’ taste and described as ‘pure’ and ‘simple’. Which I suppose in a sense it is, but all I get from this flavor is a strong menthol taste and overpowering icy kick.
Each to their own, but this flavor just isn’t for me and in fact I found it quite uncomfortable to vape for more than a few puffs.
Strawberry Ice Cream
The Strawberry Ice Cream is a delicious mix of sweet, sharp strawberry and creamy ice-cream.
Hands down my favorite flavor, this one is perfectly blended and tastes exactly like a mouthful of strawberry ice cream!
I could keep coming back to this flavor and found myself genuinely disappointed when it ran out!
Overall I’m really impressed with the flavors I tested, with the possible exception of the Clear flavor option.
It’s not a bad flavor necessarily (and if you like strong menthol it might be right up your street!) but it just wasn’t for me personally.
However, the other four flavors were all absolutely delicious and I would quite happily vape them all again in the future.
ICEWAVE X8500 | Price
I can’t comment on the retail price as the ICEWAVE X8500 doesn’t appear to be widely available yet.
I’m hoping it will fall within the $15 – $20 range, which would make it a no-brainer considering the build-quality, exceptional performance and insanely long lifespan.
VapeSourcing are planning to stock the ICEWAVE X8500 and the below link will take you directly to their website. You can enter your e-mail address to sign up and receive a notification when it’s in stock.
ICEWAVE X8500 | Verdict
Pros
- Amazing flavor
- Great flavor range
- Excellent vapor production
- Very long-lasting
- Massive e-juice capacity
- Quick to charge
- Eye-catching design
- Compact & lightweight
- Easy to use
- Responsive auto-draw
- Satisfying throat hit
- Efficient nicotine delivery
- No burnt/dry hits
Cons
- PG/VG ratio not listed
- No adjustable airflow
- No pass-through
- Only available in 50mg/ml
Overall I’m really impressed with the ICEWAVE X8500 disposable!
The flavor, vapor and throat hit were all absolutely spot-on and the lifespan and battery life are fantastic. If the ICEWAVE ends up retailing for less than $20 I can see it becoming extremely popular.
The only real negatives for me were the lack of adjustable airflow and pass-through vaping. But even these issues are easily overlooked considering the exceptional build-quality and performance!
If you’re in the market for a multi-day disposable with some amazing flavor options and above average performance, the ICEWAVE X8500 might be just the disposable you’re looking for.
That’s it ladies and gents! We hope you enjoyed reading our ICEWAVE X8500 review as much as we enjoyed writing it! Happy Vaping!
Comments 2
1st time with the ice wave vape disposable. Enjoying it so far. Really like the strawberry ice cream flavor.if all the flavors are this great.ill be purchasing this vape again.really like having the display screen.
Hi Angela, thanks for sharing your experience, glad you’re enjoying it. We’ve only tried 5 of their flavours so far and found them really good. The display is a really nice addition, quite unique and handy to know the remaining battery and juice level. Hope you enjoy some of their other flavours.
Thanks again for your input.