Blender for smoothies

[nerwin]

Anyone here at TPF make smoothies? If so, what's a good blender to get for a first timer?

Budget wise? Around $100 if possible.

I checked out the Ninja line but boy they seem to have quite a bit of quality control issues. But their pro models seem to be a tiny bit better. https://amzn.com/B00Y2U1QUM

This is the only one I found that seems to be decent not not overly expensive. But might be a little overkill for smoothies, but what do I know.

https://amzn.com/B011PAJUEA

Thanks!

 

[Gary A.]

I use the bigger Ninja and I am quite pleased with the machine. I also gave one to my daughter and she really likes it as well. It come with a small blending unit for individual smoothies, the regular sized blender and a bowl blender which I use for mixing my breads and pizza dough.

https://www.amazon.com/Ninja-Kitche...qid=1478324442&sr=1-14&keywords=ninja+blender

 

[nerwin]

I use the bigger Ninja and I am quite pleased with the machine. I also gave one to my daughter and she really likes it as well. It come with a small blending unit for individual smoothies, the regular sized blender and a bowl blender which I use for mixing my breads and pizza dough.

https://www.amazon.com/Ninja-Kitche...qid=1478324442&sr=1-14&keywords=ninja+blender

They must have cheaped out on the replacement model because I was reading the reviews and a few people said the blade came off and flew around in the pitcher. Lol Sounds really safe.

 

[Advanced Photo]

The one we picked up is great, it makes ice cream and cooks soups as well as the other blender functions but it's more than 100.

 

[Advanced Photo]

I use the bigger Ninja and I am quite pleased with the machine. I also gave one to my daughter and she really likes it as well. It come with a small blending unit for individual smoothies, the regular sized blender and a bowl blender which I use for mixing my breads and pizza dough.

https://www.amazon.com/Ninja-Kitche...qid=1478324442&sr=1-14&keywords=ninja+blender

They must have cheaped out on the replacement model because I was reading the reviews and a few people said the blade came off and flew around in the pitcher. Lol Sounds really safe.

You have to realize about half (or more) of the people that buy a product use it wrong so operator error makes reviews skewed.

 

[nerwin]

The one we picked up is great, it makes ice cream and cooks soups as well as the other blender functions but it's more than 100.

Yeah probably a $600 Vitamix. Lol

 

[nerwin]

I use the bigger Ninja and I am quite pleased with the machine. I also gave one to my daughter and she really likes it as well. It come with a small blending unit for individual smoothies, the regular sized blender and a bowl blender which I use for mixing my breads and pizza dough.

https://www.amazon.com/Ninja-Kitche...qid=1478324442&sr=1-14&keywords=ninja+blender

They must have cheaped out on the replacement model because I was reading the reviews and a few people said the blade came off and flew around in the pitcher. Lol Sounds really safe.

You have to realize about half (or more) of the people that buy a product use it wrong so operator error makes reviews skewed.

This is true. Some people are just stupid.

I really want to get it for my mom, but I don't want to kill her or send her to the ER because of a piece of crap blender or burn the house down.

 

[Trever1t]

I have a Vita-Mix...Vitamix 7500 Machine a bit more than your budget but you can find used. It does everything. Jamba Juice and Starbuck both use them.

 

[Dave442]

I just have that retro Oster 3 speed unit, changed out the glass jar for a stainless steel one. It goes for under 100. My wife overloads it all the time and it just keeps going. It is noisy. A rubber foot came loose and it was easy enough to tighten back up. Have replaced the blades a few times.

 

[astroNikon]

I have one of the cheaper Ninjas. Works fine and I've been using it for a couple years now. I make smoothies from ice cream, orange juice, bananas and it works just fine. Also make other protein drinks with powder, water and ice and it chops it all up quickly.

I use a Ninja Master Prep model. Ninja® Products - Ninja® Master Prep® - QB900
I think I spent about $40 on sale when I got it.

 

[unpopular]

Look for something with metal interface gears. Even if you get something with a good motor, I've had these gears strip out completely while crushing ice. It seemed once one of them went they all went along with it, dropping thirty teeth all over the counter. This is probably a good indicator of otherwise good quality in the rest of the transmission as well.

IIRC the one we replaced it with was a modern Oster found on sale.

 

[Gary A.]

I use the bigger Ninja and I am quite pleased with the machine. I also gave one to my daughter and she really likes it as well. It come with a small blending unit for individual smoothies, the regular sized blender and a bowl blender which I use for mixing my breads and pizza dough.

https://www.amazon.com/Ninja-Kitche...qid=1478324442&sr=1-14&keywords=ninja+blender

They must have cheaped out on the replacement model because I was reading the reviews and a few people said the blade came off and flew around in the pitcher. Lol Sounds really safe.

I will swear by mine. A solid piece of machinery. I routinely crush ice in snow (literally) ... no problema.

 

[nerwin]

I use the bigger Ninja and I am quite pleased with the machine. I also gave one to my daughter and she really likes it as well. It come with a small blending unit for individual smoothies, the regular sized blender and a bowl blender which I use for mixing my breads and pizza dough.

https://www.amazon.com/Ninja-Kitche...qid=1478324442&sr=1-14&keywords=ninja+blender

They must have cheaped out on the replacement model because I was reading the reviews and a few people said the blade came off and flew around in the pitcher. Lol Sounds really safe.

I will swear by mine. A solid piece of machinery. I routinely crush ice in snow (literally) ... no problema.

I'm pretty sure all the Ninja use plastic drives which concerns me about reliability. I was reading a comment and someone said the blade came off and flew around. haha

 

[KmH]

The Osterizer blender I've had since 1986 or so still works great.
Here is pretty much the same blender as the sell it today, for $29:
Oster 6647 10-Speed Blender, White

 

[nerwin]

I use the bigger Ninja and I am quite pleased with the machine. I also gave one to my daughter and she really likes it as well. It come with a small blending unit for individual smoothies, the regular sized blender and a bowl blender which I use for mixing my breads and pizza dough.

https://www.amazon.com/Ninja-Kitche...qid=1478324442&sr=1-14&keywords=ninja+blender

They must have cheaped out on the replacement model because I was reading the reviews and a few people said the blade came off and flew around in the pitcher. Lol Sounds really safe.

I will swear by mine. A solid piece of machinery. I routinely crush ice in snow (literally) ... no problema.

Which model do you have?