Hi everyone,

Here's my current list. I'd appreciate people's ideas on what might be good to get next.

2x2
3x3
4x4
5x5
6x6
7x7
Megaminx
Mf8 Teraminx
Pyraminx
Latch cube
Crazy 3x3 Earth
3x3x2
3x3x4
QJ trajbers Octahedron
Mf8 Crazy 4x4 II
Pyraminx crystal
Square 1 Cube
Super square 1
Ultimate skewb
Rex cube

I'm planning on eventually getting all the crazy 3x3x3 planets, or at least the uranus.

Out of those above, the ones I've *really* enjoyed have been the crazy earth and the crazy 4x4 II.

The ones I *haven't* enjoyed have been the square 1 and the ult skewb.

The ones I haven't even attempted yet are the rex cube and the latch cube and the super square 1.

I'm curious about are

smaz dino (not sure if I can get that anywhere)
super 3x3x4 http://www.hknowstore.com/item.aspx?cor ... db022875c2

So, given all that, what do you suggest? What other ones are there that haven't hit my radar?

As always I would recommend a Shapeways puzzle. I would go for Eitan's Edge Turning Octahedron or Tom's Pentultimate. They're worth the money.

Thanks Luke,

Forgot to mention that at this stage I don't want to buy puzzles which are very expensive. So, anything up to around $40 is fine. (From what I've seen, Shapeways puzzles are normally much more.)

I would then recommend you find another $2 and buy either a Professor Pyraminx or a VULCANO from Meffert's.

OK. The professor pyraminx has caught my eye before.

Any suggestions from any others? (I have looked at the post "12 Essential twisty puzzles" by the way)

My favorite puzzles, the ones I use most frequently, are the ones that have caught my eye personally. I am preferential to edge-turning puzzles, so I would recommend a helicopter cube. Also, I am planning on purchasing an edge-turning octahedron from Shapeways. I know it is relatively expensive, but for around the price of two or three "lesser" puzzles (though every puzzle is great in my opinion), you could own a puzzle that if a load of fun. If/when you buy a Shapeways puzzle, I would suggest the edge-turning octahedron, the mini starminx, and the curvy copter.

Other than that, Meffert-brand puzzles are always good. I do not have a professor pyraminx (or a regular pyraminx, for that matter) but I have heard they are pretty good quality and a fun solving experience. I love the Vulcano puzzle, as well as the Golden Cube, but the latter are getting rather hard to come by.

Also, I would recommend a master skewb - definitely in my top five favorite puzzles solving wise (not too long, not too short).

Hope it helps.

Chris

Thanks for your thoughts Chris. Very much appreciated.

A Master Skewb should give you a challenge. And it's nice to look at

Hi Friends,
A master skewb is nearly exactly the same puzzle as the Rex Cube (with one more step), which I noticed that he already has. I would solve that first and see if you like it and then upgrade the difficulty if you want (I love both puzzles).

A couple of people have mentioned the Vulcano. I don't have one, it just never grabbed me. How much different to the pyraminx is it? It seems to be on peoples' top puzzles lists. If I got persuaded I'd have to cough up the cash too!

Burgo.

I'd go for a Face-Turning Octahedron and a Master Skewb. (You can get them both at LighTake for a little under $40 combined.)

(Speaking of octahedrons, the 4x4 Trajber's Octahedron is also very nice, and not too expensive. )

Another good pair of puzzles that's under $40 (well, maybe not after shipping, depending on where you get them) is a set of Eastsheen 4x4 and 5x5 supercubes. You can get those right here at the twistypuzzles.com store, among other places.

Or... on Meffert's, their 2010 Christmas Sale is, for some reason, still active. For under $40, you could get a Gear Cube (just got one myself - very cool!) and a regular Skewb (a classic!), or one of several other combinations.

And finally, if you don't mind spending more than $40, I'd also recommend an MF8 Gigaminx to complete the trio.

OK, I had always assumed (without looking into it) that the Face Turning Octahedron was just another 3x3 supercube mod. Now I have realized it is not? What is the best quality mass produced one? Maru? There are a 2 different ones at HKnow? Others??

Any comments on the Vulcano?

I'm not trying to hijack the thread, I'm sure Rline would like to know as well.

Cheers,
Burgo.

Yes, rline would

Regarding Vulcano / Professor Pyraminx:
I can recommend both, the Vulcano compares more to a Master Pyraminx and the Professor Pyraminx is a bit harder, in my opinion.

If you like cuboids, you should certainly get Ayi's 4x4x5.
Of the ones mentioned so far, I like the Master Skewb very much. I had got a custom version first and the mass produced is no worse. (I share the opinion: not too hard, not too easy, just right) And it is different enough from the Rex Cube (The recommendation to solve that one first and decide afterwards is certainly good, though.)

I think the Dayan Gem II has not been mentioned so far: It is a combination of a 3x3x3 and a Helicopter Cube (It jumbles as well). I had technical problems with mine due to different tensions of the screws.
Yesterday, I could get to the screws and now it turns OK.
It's not very hard, but fun to figure it out yourself.

A Helicopter is something you should look for. (I have no idea if you can get one easy enough, probably on Ebay only).

If you like the idea of an higher order Minx, you shold go for the mf8 Gigaminx (it is beyond your price limit, but highly recommendable).

Probably. I placed an order at http://ztwist.webs.com/apps/webstore/. After 30 days my money was returned through paypal automatically. So despite some email communication with the site owner, it seems a helicopter won't be mine


As I had in my original list, I already have the megaminx and the teraminx. I figured the gigaminx might be overkill.


Thanks for these recs. I have had my eye on Ayi's 4x4x5 for a while now. I'll keep thinking about the other two.

I don't know about Maru, but I have an original Taiwanese (an 'expensive' one) and a LanLan (which is much cheaper). The LanLan is by far the superior puzzle, and turns fantastically.

I would really try to get a Helicopter Cube and a Tuttminx if you still can as both are quickly becoming rare and prices will go up.

Yep. Bought a tuttminx the other day when I saw the thread about it. I think I might have been one of the last ones. I'm clueless about where else to get a helicopter.

Keep an eye on eBay seller izanesmithservo.

I'm pretty sure that's the one who runs ztwist, from which my paypal money was returned...

For a helicopter cube just keep searching eBay, the key to finding one is dedication and persistance. There are still some being posted regularly, but they quickly sell out, so do a search for them on eBay as often as you can, and if one turns up, don't let it pass you by! If not, you could always buy a mini helicopter cube, someone sells them in a shapeways shop here, though at the moment I cannot remember who.

Chris

Regarding GemII:
Here is a photo collage of my transparent version.
Solving can be done intuitively (more or less).
I think optically the transparent version is really beautiful:

Click on the picture above, if you want to see it in large.
I've tried to produce some nice reflexions with my flash.

you should get a ---- holy megaminx, --- gear cube,---- holy skewb, The super 3x3x4 would be good.

Thank you for sharing.

The Latch cube. It will be very challenging