New to speed cubing, looking for a first cube

[Alphalpha]

Anything you try beyond the Rubiks is going to feel like butter. You're exactly right, you have to try the cubes to know these things--to compare and understand these descriptions: "crunchy, etc...). Lock-up's do happen sometimes even on the Aolong, less so (for me) on the Zhanchi and Weilong. You will have exponentially less locks on any true speed cube. I'd get the Zhanchi because it is tried and true and it will give you the best experience over all--accurate, fast, forgiving, fun, smooth. It can also be found for relatively cheap--though there are Weilongs for 8$ on a certain giant internet retailer. The Guanlong is a good cube for the money, but spend the extra money and get a great cube to feel it. Anyway, whether you buy the Guanlong$ or the Aolong$$$$ or any in between, you need to learn to lube them and tension them. It makes all the difference in the world. Even the Guanlong needs a tune-up.

 

[RubixNoobix]

I think I'll get a Zhanchi and maybe even throw in a GuanLong in case the Zhanchi was too big of a jump. Thanks you guys for all the recommendations and advice, when I posted this earlier today I had NO idea you could get such good advice. Thank you all again. Oh, and I'm pretty sure I already have a sticker colorway I like, but are there any color blind (protanopia) cubers out there that have any recommendations? I'm TERRIBLE with the green and orange on an original Rubik's cube, and on some cubes I have trouble telling the green and yellow apart. Yes, I do have another question for you guys xD

 

[Rocky0701]

I searched and read that bright and flourescent colors help, also doing 3 bright colors and 3 dark colors should help. You could replace either orange or red with either purple or pink. You could replace white or yellow with black. Also Mats Valk is partially colorblind. You could message JasonDL13 because I think I read that he was partially colorblind.

 

[RubixNoobix]

Thanks for the help, I will do that

 

[jms]

I've only used the trusty old Rubik's cube I bought for fun a few months ago, and if someone could tell me what that feel is, then I might understand the whole crunchy crispy thing.

******?

 

[Chrizz]

Yeah go for a GuanLong. It is 4 dollars on thecubicle.us, at your speed the extra 12 dollars for an AoLong would just be a waste of money. Be aware that a new cube will not automatically make you super fast, it will probably get you to averaging 1:15, and the rest is just practice.

My average was 1:30 on a rubik's brand and PB was 1:18. The first solve on a zhanchi was sub 60 already. My PB was sub 50 the next day and 42 within a week. I must add though, that my rubik's brand was probably crappier than the ones in stores nowadays. I used CFOP already on my rubik's brand so the rate of improvement might be different for op.

As to what cube to get, I think a zhanchi is good for beginners, that's what I did anyway. If you don't want to spend too much money, a guanlong is a very good choise. It feels cheap and not very solid, but the performance is very good. I wouldn't go for the aolong except if you hate the cheap and unsolid feeling of the guanlong, but if you go for the along, then don't lube it, it will be uncontrollable for a beginner.

 

[ComputerGuy365]

The guanlong is awful. Don't get it. Buy a yulong or a zhanchi. The aolong is gonna be too fast for you and difficult to control.

I average almost sub 20 and I feel that the aolong can be difficult to control.

Also, don't expect a cube to be a replacement for practice. You need to practice.

 

[Antonie faz fan]

welcome to the forums, for a first cube i would suggest a YJ Sulong .

 

[MrMan]

I average almost sub 20 and I feel that the aolong can be difficult to control.

Sub 25 and I find it too slow. Just a matter of getting used to the cube.

 

[ketchuphater999]

Here's what you should do (relating to methods)

Try every method you find/want to try, and choose the one you LIKE the most. IMO it's better to use a method you like than a method that most fast people use.

 

[DeeDubb]

The guanlong is awful. Don't get it. Buy a yulong or a zhanchi. The aolong is gonna be too fast for you and difficult to control.

I average almost sub 20 and I feel that the aolong can be difficult to control.

Also, don't expect a cube to be a replacement for practice. You need to practice.

Sounds like you had bad luck or don't know how to tension/lube. It's not great out of the box, but it's one of the best cubes in my collection currently (and I set my PB ao100 on i).

 

[Alphalpha]

Guanlong is a fine cube. I have mine in a daily rotation, which is more than I can say for the Aolong. The Aolong is a great cube, don't get me wrong, but the Zhanchi's I've purchased are just more consistent than the Aolong. The Aolong has some amazing features though, one of which is it can corner cut in stylistically damaging ways, which is probably why so many like it. The Zhanchi still easily cuts over 45 is arguably faster and feels more substantial. But Deedub is right you have to know "how to tension/lube" to get the most out of any of the cubes. I like the idea of throwing in a Guanlong in the order with whichever cube you choose. With any of them, you can't go wrong.

 

[jms]

My average is about 1.40 so I guess I am about a similar level to the OP.

I've got a Guhong v1, a Zanchi and a Guanlong, and I use the Guanlong 90% of the time.

 

[peedoo72]

Get a Guanlong o a yulong

 

[RubixNoobix]

I'm deciding between a Zhanchi or a Guanlong. What should I pick?

 

[TDM]

I'm deciding between a Zhanchi or a Guanlong. What should I pick?

Get both, then decide which one you prefer, then use that.

 

[jms]

I'm deciding between a Zhanchi or a Guanlong. What should I pick?

Honestly? I think the Zanchi is a better quality cube, but I have had trouble getting the tensioning right.

I have been using a guanlong mostly, as I found it a bit easier to use.

Although more recently I have been using a Guhong v2 and I am loving the feel of it more than either zanchi or guanlong.