[Help Thread] Puzzle Choice Thread

Hello, as a beginner I think this is the right place to ask my questions:

1. Which 3x3x3 cube should I get? I have a SpeedCube Ultimate II and average around 40 seconds. The main reason why I bought the SCU II back then was that it was said to not require any lubrication (as I don't know how to do it) and that I don't have to care about the stickers. However, it seems a bit outdated now (the cube also feels really slow I have to admit), so I plan to acquire a better one. I don't have a single idea what my turning style is. My noobish search so far resulted in cubes like WeiLong or AoLong but there seem to be millions of 3x3x3 cubes today. :S Also, would you recommend applying lube or can I just forego and still have a decent cube?

2. Which 2x2x2 cube should I get? I don't know how to solve it yet though and have never had one. The choice seems to be quite limited here..

Additional info: The cost is not really a problem, but I don't want to buy 10 cubes and try them out before finding the right one. :)

Thanks in advance.
sqAree
 
sqAree said:
Hello, as a beginner I think this is the right place to ask my questions:

1. Which 3x3x3 cube should I get? I have a SpeedCube Ultimate II and average around 40 seconds. The main reason why I bought the SCU II back then was that it was said to not require any lubrication (as I don't know how to do it) and that I don't have to care about the stickers. However, it seems a bit outdated now (the cube also feels really slow I have to admit), so I plan to acquire a better one. I don't have a single idea what my turning style is. My noobish search so far resulted in cubes like WeiLong or AoLong but there seem to be millions of 3x3x3 cubes today. :S Also, would you recommend applying lube or can I just forego and still have a decent cube?

2. Which 2x2x2 cube should I get? I don't know how to solve it yet though and have never had one. The choice seems to be quite limited here..

Additional info: The cost is not really a problem, but I don't want to buy 10 cubes and try them out before finding the right one. :)

Thanks in advance.
sqAree
Click to expand...
For 2x2, the Dayan is a great choice. Used by all the fast people.
 
sqAree said:
Hello, as a beginner I think this is the right place to ask my questions:

1. Which 3x3x3 cube should I get? I have a SpeedCube Ultimate II and average around 40 seconds. The main reason why I bought the SCU II back then was that it was said to not require any lubrication (as I don't know how to do it) and that I don't have to care about the stickers. However, it seems a bit outdated now (the cube also feels really slow I have to admit), so I plan to acquire a better one. I don't have a single idea what my turning style is. My noobish search so far resulted in cubes like WeiLong or AoLong but there seem to be millions of 3x3x3 cubes today. :S Also, would you recommend applying lube or can I just forego and still have a decent cube?

2. Which 2x2x2 cube should I get? I don't know how to solve it yet though and have never had one. The choice seems to be quite limited here..

Additional info: The cost is not really a problem, but I don't want to buy 10 cubes and try them out before finding the right one. :)

Thanks in advance.
sqAree
Click to expand...

Yep, there are dozens of great 3x3s out there right now. It all depends on what you are aiming for:
- A cheap cube to get the taste of what a more modern speedcube can give you but without spending more than $7. I'd say get a Guanlong, Sulong or Chilong. The last one is my main and you can do sub-10 with it (not me yet but a good cuber can).
- The best cube you can get, spending between $11-$20. That's were the problem begins, because I don't know what you will like best. If you can try cubes from frieds I'd recommend that and then coming back with what you tried and what you liked / didn't like. If you can't try I'd suggest to go with one of the above 3 and then, after you have at least tried that, come back and we can perhaps help you better. If you have to go directly with a top-notch cube, a safe bet would be a Weilong or Aolong. But beware, they are not going to be 3 or 4 times better (as the price would suggest) than the others above that cost between $2 and $5 and you won't probably feel the difference, at least for some time. If my case can be a good reference, I have been cubing for almost 2 years, I am barely sub-20, I have a Weilong and Aolong (v1), a Huanying a YueYing, a Yuxin, a Gans 357, a Fhangshi Shuanren, a SS Aurora, a Zhanchi... and I still prefer my YJ Chilong to all those. An I also have a Sulong than comes close second to the Chilong, with Weilong and Aolong right behind those two.

Regarding the 2x2 almost everybody seems to agree that the Dayan is the best. I have a Moyu LingPo and if feels good but I cannot compare as I only have that one (I have more than 12 different 3x3s on the other hand). This raises a question to me. Why hasn't Moyu tried to come up with a better 2x2 yet that takes the 2x2 throne off of Dayan?
 
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I'm getting back into cubing after not touching one for 7 years. The last cube I bought was a DIY of some sketchy looking website(cube4us? cube4you? cubes r us?) that I bought in 2006. I was probably around 15.5s average when I stopped, if that matters. I signed up for a competition close to me and I need to get new cubes(3x3 and 4x4). Which ones do you recommend? Looks like many people prefer the Guhong v2 3x3? I only need the cube to be decent, as I'm not going to really dive headfirst back into speedcubing like I did in my younger years. I'd just like a cube to compete in when there are tournaments in my city. So minimal maintenance/lubing upkeep would be nice.

edit: what the hell am i talking about in my signature.
 
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HelloiamChow said:
I'm getting back into cubing after not touching one for 7 years. The last cube I bought was a DIY of some sketchy looking website(cube4us? cube4you? cubes r us?) that I bought in 2006. I was probably around 15.5s average when I stopped, if that matters. I signed up for a competition close to me and I need to get new cubes(3x3 and 4x4). Which ones do you recommend? Looks like many people prefer the Guhong v2 3x3? I only need the cube to be decent, as I'm not going to really dive headfirst back into speedcubing like I did in my younger years. I'd just like a cube to compete in when there are tournaments in my city. So minimal maintenance/lubing upkeep would be nice.

edit: what the hell am i talking about in my signature.
Click to expand...

Aolong V2 is a great choice.
 
Berd said:
Hardly easily. Lots of people use modded SS and I know people who use the MF8 V3.

Dayan with ridges is what I prefer however.
Click to expand...

I was about to ask "ridged or not ridged?" but I guess you've already answered.
So, after all the fuss since late 2014 still no Moyu Megaminx?
I think maybe I can still wait for that to come out :)
 
mafergut said:
I was about to ask "ridged or not ridged?" but I guess you've already answered.
So, after all the fuss since late 2014 still no Moyu Megaminx?
I think maybe I can still wait for that to come out :)
Click to expand...

It depends wether you want lookahead or grip. At our speeds, grip is a lot more important. Yeah, a Moyu Megaminx would be cool.
 
FailCuber said:
Moyu Mega will take a loooooooooooooong time just buy the DaYan.
Click to expand...

I'll look into that. Thanks. I just wanted to wait because when I bought my SS Pyra, not more than a couple months later Moyu got their Pyra out and it was so much better...

Thank you all for your advice regarding new puzzles these past days. In the end I've almost decided to buy a a skewb and a Megaminx in terms of WCA puzzles and, just for fun, a LanLan Rex (and probably a MF8 Dino as well, even if it's too easy) and some kind of fisher cube, probably the moyu crazy yileng / fisher).

You are all witnesses. If in two years' time I end up with a collection of more than 100 puzzles I will not say you did not warn me :) but my 15+ 3x3s, LingPo and Aosu (and SS Pyraminx) feel so lonely...

And no, I'm not gonna get a 5x5, 6x6 or bigger cube... not until I get sub-minute with 4x4 which, let's be honest, is not gonna happen any time soon. But I admit suggestions regarding other WCA or non-WCA puzzle purchases :)
 
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I've been out of cubing for a while and my Weilong is getting old. My aolong is nice but I would have to resticker it. Also my Shengshou 4x4 isn't good either.
So my questions: what is the current top 4x4? Still the Aosu? And what is considered the top 3x3 now also?
 
4x4 is pretty much aosu vs yuxin.

As for 3x3, there are so many good ones that it is just a matter of personal preference. Examples include the hualong, gans 356, meiying, yueying, guangying, yuxin, etc.
 
I'm in a similar situation. I haven't been following 3x3 releases for a while and I'd like to try a new one. I currently use an Aolong V2. I like how fast it is and its corner cutting, but to me it's a little bit unstable (like the V1, but not as bad).
What cube would you recommend?
 
Nilsibert said:
I'm in a similar situation. I haven't been following 3x3 releases for a while and I'd like to try a new one. I currently use an Aolong V2. I like how fast it is and its corner cutting, but to me it's a little bit unstable (like the V1, but not as bad).
What cube would you recommend?
Click to expand...

Hualong is more stable than V2, and very similar. Keep it close to factory tensions though
 
obelisk477 said:
Hualong is more stable than V2, and very similar. Keep it close to factory tensions though
Click to expand...

Curious! I have watched reviews that say just the opposite, that the Hualong is not very stable. In fact I have an Aolong V1 and I always considered it one of the more stable cubes out there, the only thing why I abandoned it being the corner twisting issue.

By the way, I'm checking prices and options for the Dayan Megaminx and, its curious... I have all my 3x3s in black because I can recognize colours best on black than on white, but looking at reviews and pictures of the Megaminx I feel that it looks a lot better in white plastic. Maybe because of the lighter colours that a Mega has over a 3x3. I also assume that they replace white stickers for black when the Mega comes in white plastic for some reason?

So, do you have your Megas in white or black plastic and what would you recommend?

Also, the colour schemes don't seem to be consistent in all megas, at least judging for the photos. Am I right?
 
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mafergut said:
I have a Hualong in the mail but I don't expect it to be fully controllable for me yet, I just couldn't resist to the fact it was on sale for just $11 USD. But if the QiYi Bullfight is going to replace the YJ Sulong as your main it must really be worth trying. I know that you really, really like the Sulong ;-).
Click to expand...

For what it's worth, I set a new PB single with the Bullfight yesterday so it seems to be working for me. Reverse corner cutting is a bit lacking so you have to be pretty accurate or it catches. It's rock solid stable at moderate tensions which is great. It could be a tiny bit faster, though.

The HuaLong doesn't suit me well. If I set it to the tensions I like then it doesn't cut corners well at all. If I set it up to cut corners well then it's a floppy, unstable mess.
 
EvilGnome6 said:
For what it's worth, I set a new PB single with the Bullfight yesterday so it seems to be working for me. Reverse corner cutting is a bit lacking so you have to be pretty accurate or it catches. It's rock solid stable at moderate tensions which is great. It could be a tiny bit faster, though.

The HuaLong doesn't suit me well. If I set it to the tensions I like then it doesn't cut corners well at all. If I set it up to cut corners well then it's a floppy, unstable mess.
Click to expand...

I was thinking of getting the Bullfight, since you told me such great things of it but since I've heard also great things of the QiYi Thunderclap. Things like it is an improved Aolong v2 so now I'm in doubt. I don't know what to do... so I'll surely end up getting both :)

Also, the other day I almost get a 50% sale at lightake for the Chilong. I lost it for a day or so but it was at 2,10 € each and I was thinking of getting two as a backup of my main, which already is a bit worn out from thousands of solves. Do you think that would be a good idea?
 
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