The Cube Primer

Cube Gear

Choosing the right puzzle and keeping it turning sweetly. These guides explain why a budget stickerless speed cube makes a great inexpensive first cube, and why you do not need to spend a lot to get something that turns far better than a stiff toy-store model. We cover magnetic cubes and the satisfying snap they add, how lubricant and tension change the way a cube plays and how to adjust them, and how to break a new cube in. Once you are hooked, the same skills carry into other puzzles, so we look at the 2x2, the 4x4, and the pyraminx too.

Cube Gear

4 guides

Cube Gear

How to Tension a Speed Cube

Learn how to tension a speed cube for faster, smoother solves. Step-by-step guide to adjusting cube tension, whether you're loosening or tightening the layers.

August 13, 2026

Cube Gear

How to Lube a Speed Cube (and Why)

Learn how to lube a speed cube the right way — which products to use, how to apply them, and why lubing transforms a scratchy cube into a smooth solver.

July 30, 2026

Cube Gear

Magnetic vs Non-Magnetic Cubes: What's the Difference?

Learn how magnetic and non-magnetic speed cubes differ, which is better for beginners, and whether magnets are actually worth it for your solving style.

July 16, 2026

Cube Gear

How to Choose Your First Speed Cube

Find the best speed cube for beginners with this plain-English guide to what actually matters: turning feel, magnets, price tiers, and what to skip.

July 2, 2026

← All topics