Original Designer

I really enjoy this blender, sure it costs a boat-load and takes up some of that precious commodity called counterspace, but without a doubt it's a great purchase if you are going to use it (and let's be frank, if you're considering a $400+ blender for a kitchen, one would hope you're actually using it). I bought it for one main purpose and that was making smoothies and iced drinks. Rather then spending $5-6 a pop on the way to work for my smoothie fix, I am able to make drinks on par (if not better due to fresher ingredients) with the local smoothie or coffee shop at home. These are cousins to the blenders in those same shops so it is definitely up to par. This should (hopefully!) pay for itself after a year or two. Using it does take some getting use to as you can't just throw in ingredients and expect it to come out perfect, but with a little trial and error I was able to find the right proportions of liquid, ice and solids to make the perfect mixed drink. There is literally no comparison between the drinks produced by this blender (super smooth) and my previous $20 cheap-o blender (what's that weird burning smell coming from the motor?). The wildside jar is great, but you do need to make sure that you have enough liquid in there to keep everything moving. This might not be an issue for some, but I like my smoothies thick, so it did take some tinkering with liquid amounts. One thing I have started adding to my smoothies is flax seeds (high in fiber/protein/vitamins/etc. and minimal taste impact when its one of many other ingredients). In my old blender I needed to grind the flax seeds in my coffee grinder to get them chopped up. In the blendtec, I throw them in whole and they're pretty much obliterated in the smoothie and it's hard to tell they're even there. I've also had a similar experience with kale, where the cheap-o model couldn't handle the tough fibers, but the blendtec doesn't even bat an eye-lash The designer series is a step up from the older blendtec model and it's sleek finish is pretty easy to keep clean due to a lack of buttons (the controls are operated by a capacitive touchscreen similar to a cellphone). Downsides: +This thing is loud. You're only going to be using it in short bursts, but the neighbors might wonder why you're running heavy machinery in the morning. +Smoothie cavitation (this is when the blender blades create an air pocket and spin without hitting anything) -- Can be remedied by making sure there is enough liquid in the jar. Pros: +Powerful...yes it will blend +Professional quality +Easy clean-up (just throw a little water with some dishwashing soap and pulse for a few seconds. Rinse out and let dry) +7 year warranty

Finally, we had enough money to get a high powered/high end blender. We love it! I use it at least three times a day. The concerns I had were met as follows. 1. Blendtec or Vitamix? - this machine fits under my counter, - it has settings that lets me leave the machine alone while I tend to the kids or prep other food, - it also has a manual setting so I can blend a little extra if needed, and - the flat surface is easy to clean 2. How can I justify the cost if all it does is blend? I.e. what else can I make with this thing other than smoothies? I took some time and read through the recipe book that comes with the blender. If you get this machine I HIGHLY RECOMMEND READING THROUGH THE RECIPE BOOK - KNOWLEDGE IS POWER and you will enjoy more foods as a result. Each day I make a smoothie and then two or more completely different foods that I didn't ... well ... think were possible with a blender. I make, - pancakes from scratch, that is, I throw wheat berries in with milk and pulverize those, then all the other ingredients and in less than 3 minutes I have this really good batter that makes fluffy pancakes each time - no white flour! With our griddle I can make 4 at a time and have pancakes on the table within 15 minutes it's really good for my kids because they get impatient. It's easy to pour each pancake straight from the jar and clean up is painless. - brownies = delicious and restaurant quality every time! - cookies = again, delicious and healthy - tomato salsa and sauce - tomatillo salsa - bread - soup - almond butter - almond milk and more 3. Price Well, we had to save up for this but after baby #2 came along we really could justify the cost. Its easier to make healthy foods high in nutrients when you have this type of tool. I really feel that the cost is justified because of the time we save in cooking and the health benefit we get. If you're struggling to pay for it now just keep saving because the day will come when you can get it and you will appreciate what it can do for you even more. We now want to get the four sided jar because we use the wildside jar so much.

This is not your average blender! Since splurging and purchasing this i have made green smoothies everyday. I have trouble eating fruits and vegetables because i have had extensive mouth surgery due to cancer. It is so easy to add whatever fruits and vegetables you want in this blender, and everything is blended with no pulp leftover! The design is such that there is minimal cleanup. A terrific product!

Me gusto todo en ella. Muy buena eleccion.

This is my second Blendtec after my other one got too old after many years. I've gone through many Blenders and nothing beats the Blendtec for power and consistent smooth results. It's very stylish look and very straightforward to use.

The design looks really nice in the pics, but when it arrived, I realized the base is made from low quality materials, its not strong enough. My friend has a Total blender and, though it does looks better than this in the real life and it's building is stronger.

Don’t waste your time with other blenders cause you don’t want to spend the money. It’s worth every penny. And the best is there’s no sharp blades every time you wash it. We have smoothies every morning with nuts, fruit and many other things that are blended to perfection.