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If you had to pick an unboosted Chinese rubber to play with, which would it be? 729 Bloom Power, 729 Battle 2 (any variant), LAC, or something else?LAC is like a more Chinese D09c. It has bounce, quite transparent, but less spiny and less stretchy. I think LAC is very easy to use and very forgiving even compared to D09c. Polestar P is like a H3 OS boosted. Quite different. If anything LAC is similar to H8-80, tho not as tacky and harder.
I tried the R9, I first boosted it with FTL, that was useless. With FTL for me it was dead out of the package and it should have some factory boost too so I don't know what's up with it. Should try it with seamoon too, I guess that will get it working.
For me every BS H3 clone has disadvantages even the ones that nearly perform like H3 BS. While if I boost H3 I am around 50g or sometimes less cut. But Battle 2, R9, dingtian are more, 53-55g. I also don't love the topsheet of R9, and battle 2 blue is a bit meh. I think the Dingtian is closer to H3 BS.
Also price wise I can get H3 BS prov for R9 price, Dingtian is even cheaper. Of course there is the big durability question too. Dingtian for me so far was very durable, H3 BS as well, LAC not, R9 dunno yet, Volant Phoenix not so durable, Battle 2 is pretty durable.
Since 11.11 is coming I wanna try some dirt cheap blue sponge clone. Like Tuttle Beijing V blue sponge.
My choice are H3 BS or OS, or Dingtian so far these are the best. The rest is still good but doesn't have that extra magic for me.
I briefly tried Rakza X, I liked it too. Vega X I didn't try since everyone says it's heavy. I used Vega Asia for some time and it's directer than Vega Pro, kinda like T05 vs T64. But all ESN have their changing properties as the booster evaporates. Some get very hard in colder temp too. Near useless in wintertime and there are always locations with poor heating.
From ESN my fav are G-1 and V15 extra.
But I don't see buying any ESN as long as Mantra Pro M is available, even aliexpress price is not too bad for them in case one cannot get it from taobao.
Only way I get rid of Mantra Pro is if it performs bad in colder temps. But performance and durability so far is great. It's just really fun to play with it like a FTL boosted G-1 without the need to brush sticky snot on it. Also a bit faster than boosted G-1 and just easier to use.