Talk me out of a Blendtec Blender: I need a blender $150-250 budget.

Just as the question asks, $150-250 budget

Talk me out of a Classic blendtec blender.

Have you used something else at this pricepoint that is better?

And just for fun.. the first Will It Blend video they uploaded to Youtube back in 2006.
 

I don't know what they are going for on Amazon, but don't buy anything but a Vita mix.  There's nothing better.

Costco has the Vitamix on sale every so often. Best blender out there. 

All I have to say about a blender is that an underrated breakfast to go is

1/4-1/2 lb of bacon

24oz of cold brew coffee

Half and half to preference

Maple syrup to flavor

Bourbon to flavor

Blend until a smooth balanced consistency

Bass-O-Matic

Blendtec for appx 7 years. Bought a refurbished one from their site - best price I could find.  Had a seal start to grind up on a container and they sent a replacement. No complaints.  Still using both containers!

Appreciate the input everyone. The vitamix blenders were a lot more expensive and also i love that Blendtec won their patent lawsuit against vitamix for the "wild side" blender cup.

I found one of their newer consumer models with the wildside cup on sale for $230 instead of the usual $400.. So I ordered it.

https://www.amazon.com/Blendtec-Wildside-Professional-Grade-Self-Cleaning-Pre-programmed/dp/B01FHQVY8I/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=B01FHQVY8I&qid=1607038976&sr=8-1

Funny, that's apparently a new one, sold by blendtec, and cheaper than their refurb'd ones.  You'll be happy

I'd buy a blendtec simply because the only thing it can't blend is Chuck norris. 

So all I’ve ever wanted in a blender is one that won’t get an air bubble in the bottom when I’m trying to make a pina colada that I then have to release by stopping the blender every 1 second and sticking a big spoon down there. Too much to ask?

What are you blending? You may be able to get away with a cheap Oster. Or you may want something much more powerful. 
 

I love our vitamix, but I know a lot of people happy with blentec too

In reply to mtn (Forum Supporter) :

my goal was to blend smoothies and possibly other things in the future.

But i wanted to buy something solid that would last. the viral product destructive testing videos made me remember Blendtec and the 8yr Warranty on their product was a nice touch.

I scored a blendtec along with a lot of le creuset when we kicked out the world's worst roommate. 

Having never used a fancy blender before it is really impressive, but also an item I never remember to use. Perhaps 4 times in two years. 

Perhaps I need to get back into making molés

Love our Vitamix, eats up anything

I've got an oster that's been working for 25 years. What are people blending that they have to spend this much money on a blender? I don't need one that'll chew up cell phones!

In reply to Floating Doc (Forum Supporter) :

I've actually got my Dad's Osterizer...from the early 60's, maybe even late 50's. It still makes great smoothies, and the occasional margarita without a complaint. But I do baby it now since it's pretty sentimental at this point.

You seem to have posted this in the incorrect forum.  This isn't the Food Network.  THIS is a GRM blender.

Oster's new stuff...ain't great. We have a blender that's made to look like an old, good one, but the motor is weak. You can easily keep the blades from spinning by dumping smoothie stuff down there, e.g., frozen berries. The motor grunts but can't spin, and I worry that my special lady friend is going to let all of the smoke escape one day. Our work-around for smoothies is to first blend the liquid-y stuff, then drop in the denser bits.

We also have an Oster hot water kettle (a gift), which heats water like it should, but has stupid design elements, e.g., placement of the transparent water-level window such that you can't see it while filling it.

Tedroco: Sure, but can Vitamix blend a canoe paddle?

I'm guessing the main thing that tears up blenders - outside of surrealist Blendtec commercials - is ice.

My ninja blender at 70$ is amazing I use it every singe day for protien shakes with frozen banana's and it holds up really well. But the lids are a little flimzy. I would go vitamix. 

My 11 year old blendtec has 3000 uses, and runs like the day I bought it. Can't really go wrong with blendtec or Vitamix.

wearymicrobe said:

My ninja blender at 70$ is amazing I use it every singe day for protien shakes with frozen banana's and it holds up really well. But the lids are a little flimzy. I would go vitamix. 

I have a ~$100 Ninja I got in 2014.  The pitcher cracked in normal usage once, but was discontinued.  Thankfully I got support to send me a new one for free.  I doubt it will happen a second time.  Its kinda flimsy.

I wouldn't buy one again.

Floating Doc (Forum Supporter) said:

I've got an oster that's been working for 25 years. What are people blending that they have to spend this much money on a blender? I don't need one that'll chew up cell phones!

25 years ago was probably just before things like blenders had the cost-driven race to the bottom.  So metal gears & sturdy glass pitchers were probably common.

Slippery (Forum Supporter) said:

Costco has the Vitamix on sale every so often. Best blender out there. 

People say that, but I haven't seen any evidence that they're better than the Blendtec.

In reply to spacecadet (Forum Supporter) :

Can we send you things to blend?