Lanlan Gear Octahedron

LanLan Gear Octahedron

LanLan Gear Octahedron is an eight-sided gear puzzle, a shape mod of the Gear Cube with a 3x3 gear mechanism inside. The gears mesh with each other and connect all the faces, so turning one part also rotates the pieces next to it. If you have solved a Gear Cube, you will recognize the same mechanism here in a different shape. This model has a black body with colored stickers.

How it turns

The turning is fairly smooth. In puzzles of this type, the gears usually move easily right out of the box, and after a short break-in they run even more freely. Still, this is not a speed cube, so don't expect high TPS or corner cutting like on a modern 3x3 cube. The Gear Octahedron is made for relaxed solving and figuring out the mechanism, not for setting record times. It has no magnets and is not a WCA event, so you can't use it at official competitions.

Reviewers point out the stickers. Sometimes one of them peels off during the first few days of use, so it's worth keeping an eye on them at the start.

Who is this gear puzzle for?

Mainly for people who can already solve the Gear Cube and want to try this mechanism in a different shape. It will also appeal to collectors of gear puzzles. It looks great on a shelf, and the gears are fun to watch in motion. For a first puzzle for a child who is just learning to solve a cube, it's better to choose something simpler. Without knowing the basics, the Gear Octahedron can quickly become discouraging.

Specifications

• Type: gear puzzle, octahedral shape mod of the Gear Cube
• Manufacturer: LanLan
• Size: approx. 75 mm
• Weight: approx. 180 g
• Magnets: none
• Adjustment: adjustment screws
• Body color: black, with stickers
• Release year: 2014
• Official WCA competitions: no
• In the box: puzzle