Vitamix 1732 TurboBlend VS Blender

Variable speed is essential, best deal here
If you're serious about using a Vitamix, you need the variable speed (VS). And I don't mean just high and low, but 1-10, in addition to high and low. With that, you can make cole sole in 2 seconds (no kidding!) and a lot of other things that you couldn't with more limitations, because different things require different speeds, sometimes increasing incrementally.

This is the same price, package and warranty that you get if you buy directly from Vitamix. I was tempted to rate it only 4 stars, because it is way overpriced. With an Amazon Store card, it's interest-free IF you pay it off within 6 months -- and that's vital, because whopping interest applies if you don't. Vitamix has a payment plan, too, but you have to pay more when you order and have only 3 months after that to pay it off. So Amazon's deal breaks it up into 6 smaller payments, which makes it the most affordable way for many of us to get one of these machines. There is nothing else quite like them. Blentec is...

Worth every penny...
Yes, the Vitamix is an expensive blender at $500. It simply can't be compared to any other though - it is an amazing product. All of the claims are true - you can put just about anything in it and turn into a consistent smooth liquid. To be honest I'm not a big veggie guy, yet I know the importance of consuming them - there is a ton of research that validates a plant-based diet is MUCH healthier than SAD (Standard American Diet). I've had the Vitamix for about a week and have had fun making fruit/veggie smoothies (that taste good - even with lots of green stuff!). The TurboBlend VS is the one to go for - the "cookbook" that comes with it is full of great ideas.

Recommended to all!
Wow, count me in as a newly minted VitaMix convert!

I just got delivery of my new VitaMix blender (to replace an NSF-rated KitchenAid Commercial blender [ahem, that's NSF, not NSFW...]) and immediately put it to work.

I threw in all that I could find, which was Kale, Celery, Carrots, Daikon, Cabbage, Ginger root, Strawberries, Pear, Apple, Orange, dried Apricots, Prunes, Flax seed, Psyllium husk, raw Almonds, raw Pine Nuts, Tumeric (ground), Ascorbic Acid, plenty of ice and some water.

I did leave out the Canteloupe; clearly no more room at the inn... (I had to force the lid down to allow it to snap back on.)

The initial mixture was mud pot thick. With the blades racing underneath at 240 mph the top of the mix sat insanely still, with just an occasional belch (signal?) of air slowly surfacing through the verdant depths.

Adding a bit of water did the trick, liberating the brew into a whirling pot of creamy veg and fruit. Not a...

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Magic Bullet Deluxe 25 pc Set Blender Mixer

Great product - short lifespan
I love using the Magic Bullet for the reasons listed on this site - mainly convenience of use and cleanup. Here is the catch, however. My first Magic Bullet lasted about 6 months with daily usage. I thought that the short lifespan was a fluke, so I bought another Magic Bullet. The second one lasted about two months with daily usage. Daily usage was making smoothies and grinding cheese, ice, nuts - nothing unusual, according to the sales pitch.

Believe it or not, I'm looking to buy a third Magic Bullet because of the convenience (it literally cleans up in seconds vs. a blender because the blade is easier to get at), but now I know that I'm only going to have it for a short time.

Not Magic, but still Cool - Super Easy to Clean!
Of course it doesn't work exactly like the informercial. It can't really defy the laws of physics (or cooking), but it's great at what it does do (chop and blend small amounts of things), and it's super easy to clean (my favorite part, a blender that isn't a huge hassle clean!). I also like that it isn't at all bulky like a full size blender. I can just leave the base out on the counter, and all the parts and accessories fit into one drawer. I've had mine for only a few days and I've been using it several times a day already for smoothies, coffee drinks and egg dishes.

A couple of warnings, though...

To get the most out of this product you need to read the manual (seriously, I don't normally read the manuals for products I buy, but this one is extremely useful). A lot of the concerns that I've seen in the reviews I've read are adressed there, and there's lots of tips about little things you can do to get the bullet to work better (which blade to use for different...

pretty nice
Small, compact, and versitle. I think it is a great product and pretty affordable.

One note: the blades will rust slightly if you don't turn them upside down in the dishwasher. So just make sure the blades are facing towards the floor when you run them through the dishwasher.

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Hamilton Beach 54615 Wavestation Express Dispensing Blender with 48-Ounce Jar, Black

I'm amazed this blender has no reviews!
I purchased this blender about a year ago from Wal-Mart. I've had a number of blenders over the past 30+ years but always ended up giving them away because I seldom if ever used them -- too much bother -- and have this thing about getting rid of unused stuff but finding yet another excuse why I "need" to buy another blender. I got it strictly for smoothies. My sister convinced me they were good for me, but I wasn't about to pay $3-4 a pop for one smoothie. I was going to do all the research but when I saw this I liked how it looked and really liked the price, around $18 at the time. I thought the spout thingee was neat, but I was really blown away by the 500 watts. How bad can it be with 500 watts? I'm not a technical person but after comparing the wattage of this one with the others on display, I knew I had nothing to lose. If it blew out after recouping the price of 4-5 smoothies, to me it would be a fair tradeoff.

It's plastic, very lightweight and easy to move...

A great party blender
I bought 2 Wavestations this summer for an annual beach blender party I throw. Armed with a portable generator and tiki bar, I literally mixed over 100 batches of frozen drinks in each unit in just one afternoon (I stopped counting at 100). I have bartended professionally and recreationally for over 20 yrs and I have never run across a commercial blender, let alone a household version that can create fast, consistent smooth blends AND serve them to the last drop from a built in pour tap without ever having to remove the top from the base. Yes, the tap actually works, and works great! I'm buying more just in case some corporate idiot decides to drop the line. Don't let the low price scare you, the Wavestation is really one of those rare items today that actually work as advertised. Enjoy, and remember to party in moderation, or at least give your car keys to somebody how can! :)

We bothered to read the manual
Bought this at Walmart a few days ago (around October 15 2010). It was under 20 bucks and looked good with the pour spout. Even though made in China just like all your name brand stuff is, Hamilton Beach products have served us well when we have had them.

As soon as I got it home, I decided to read reviews. Many really liked it but there were a lot of negative reviews. I read everything from the pour spout would clog, to the lid leaking, to the blender not working anymore and finally someone saying the spout will not come apart to thoroughly clean.

Unlike me, I told the wife to read the manual before using it as I did. The manual covered all these complaints for us anyway. First off, straight ice will take s a little time but seemed to do the job, obviously the crushed ice cannot come out of the spout. When putting ice in thin liquid the manual says to add after agitation has started. We have had no problem with these instructions. The spout does not clog on us...

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