UPDATE: NOW AVAILABLE AT RETAIL OUTLETS

(Picture by Chris “Dr. Yo-Yo” Allen)

A few weeks ago, I posted here about the 3Yo3 Cosmo. I can’t tell you the excitement that I had when 3yo3 contacted me about doing a review. It is not every day you get sent something so artful as the Cosmo, and I have to say that I was completely geeked out at the thought of tossing the Cosmo in the bright sun of mid day. I was also really curious of the playability of an acrylic yo-yo. It makes sense since most contact balls are made of polished acrylic. It belongs solidly in the “Why didn’t I think of that…” category. Like all yo-yos I review, I have been playing the Cosmo for a week now, and am happy to give you personal thoughts and impressions, as well as whatever facts I can scrounge up.

First Impressions:

You know that sound that treasure chests make in cartoons and cheesy movies use? The one that sounds like an Angelic choir saying “AHHhh” (perhaps for the Angel dentist). Well upon opening the unassuming box from the Florida based 3Yo3, you might as well had Angels lining up for root canals because when I laid my hands on the custom died blue Cosmo, not only did I get the angelic noise, it was heaven at first sight.
The Cosmo I am reviewing is a prototype, so I can not speak to packaging or presentation, but I think that a bright velvety bag with gold rope would be appropriate here. The polished acrylic shines and gleams like a freshly waxed luxury car. The Cosmo that I have is tinted blue, and the way it catches light is nearly criminal. There are no other markings on the Cosmo, just a pure slickness and shine.

Comfort and Tech:

3Yo3 knew what they were doing when they made the Cosmo. The Cosmo fits diameter wise between a Legacy and an 888, and has a width on par with a Freehand Zero. This makes the Cosmo easy to hold and comfortable in your hand. The catch zone shape is similar to a Spinfactor HG (Which happens to be one of my favorite throws). 3Yo3 has the Cosmo axle system setup similar to the Gung-Fu or an Anti-Yo. The C-Size bearing sites on the axle and is held into place by the yo-yo wall. The response system is also similar to a YoYoJam or OneDrop flow groove, which makes it ideal for both silicone but is a bit to narrow for a ring setup. To reduce the weight at the center of the yo-yo, the Cosmo has a depression in the side. This helps push as much weight out as possible, but not as much a yo-yo made of a material that is easier to work with. I can’t really hold that against 3Yo3 though. If you were to take a Superstar and lathe one out of acrylic,
I imagine that it would be way to light, and not very durable. The way the Cosmo is shaped is the best way to push out the 66 grams without compromising durability.

On a Throw:

Smooo-ooooo-oooooth…. and way to pretty for its own good. The acrylic does something I didn’t even think of, it shields your ears from the assailing bearing noise that almost all aluminum yo-yos amplify. This week while yo-yoing in public, the Cosmo caught more eyes then any other yo-yo I have used. Most yo-yoers can relate to the lurk watchers. They watch, but pretend not to and rarely come up and talk to you, and on the rare occurrence that they do come approach you, they berate you with “Can you walk the dog?”. With the Cosmo, people who would normally lurk in the distance watching you instead came up, wanting to know more about the “Glass Yo-Yo”. Not once was I asked to “Walk the Dog” because people immediately understood that this was a piece of art, and shared stores of contact balls and marbles.
The Cosmo itself is a joy to play. You have to watch your spin since the weight of the yo-yo is closer to the center then you might expect, but it is not a huge problem. You also have to be aware of spin time since the acrylic dampens bearing noise, which is one thing some yo-yoers listen to while determining how much spin is remaining and how much torque the yo-yo can take before it dies. This of course, will make moms and wives very happy. With no vibe or wobble, the Cosmo sits almost silently at the bottom of the string on a good throw. The acrylic creates an awesome effect making the yo-yo looks perfectly still even when it is at full speed. At 66 grams, the Cosmo is easy to move around, whip, transfer, and pop in and out of buckets.
There were two weakness I could find, but were not deal breakers for me. The first was the lack of grind ability. Acrylic is kind of sticky and is not really designed for grinds. The second is the weight distribution. I understand that it is 100% necessary to have the yo-yo full bodied for durability, but the Cosmo is not the most forgiving throw on errors and mistakes. That being said, if you know what you are doing, you can really make the Cosmo sparkle. I even dared to mar my Cosmo with some 5a action, and was not just pleased by the performance, but surprised at the stability. The Cosmo has such a unique feel that the only way to truly understand how great it is, is to experience it for yourself.

Final Thoughts:

This is not just a yo-yo, it is a piece of art. If you get yourself a Cosmo, have no shame in protecting it in a velvet bag, in a steel box, and guarded by a defensive lineman. I personally plan to use the Cosmo in some of my show segments because no other yo-yo I own catches the light like this one. My biggest concern is durability, but that is only because I have no practical experience with how acrylic holds up in the kind of tricks I am used to. I can tell you though, that after a week of solid play, I have not put a scratch or a gouge in it, and that is after hitting the belt buckle, soda can, and wall (I have a three year old. Sudden leg tackles + yo-yoing = Flail fail). All in all, I think that the Cosmo by 3Yo3 would make a fine addition to any collection. Get one, and play outside in the sun. It is spectacular, especially Eli Hop-ping into a bright sky.

The 3Yo3 by cosmo will be available soon at a few yo-yo retailers.  Keep your eye on YoYoSkills.com to see when it drops, and also be sure to visit Landon’s website to get the scoop on what is next. (NOTE: Landon has a few clear ones up for a great price on his website so go grab one NOW)

Written by Chris “Dr. Yo-Yo” Allen who resisted the urge to use the phrase “Nice as Ice”