Funny you should ask. I have been looking at Vitamix, but perhaps for an entirely different reason than just a plain blender. I make a lot of shakes with frozen fruit, fresh greens, ice cubes, etc and need something that is good for those.

I have a Ninja. We bought a set that included a blender and food processor. It also came with a couple of bullets that I use a lot for smoothies, blending small quantities and grinding spices. When I make a smoothie, it's very rare to find any chunks of ice in my drink; it does a really good job of pulverizing ice.

I'm very happy with it and would buy it again.

I love my Vitamix.

We got a vita mix from Costco about a year ago and love it. My family makes at least one smoothie per day, usually more.

When I was looking for reviews, both vita mix and blendtec got rave reviews. Not cheap but I was sick of cheap blenders that either leaked, didn’t do the job or broke after a couple years.

Ninja 1000 Blender. It’s awesome. I love that there are three different settings for blending power. I personally think that buying a $600 vitamix is not worth it. But, I love this blender so much!

We originally had a Ninja for ten years, but then I dropped it so the handle broke off and the little lever you press down half broke off. But it still worked until we moved!

I have a Blend Tec. It was a toss-up between it and Vita Mix. Both get excellent reviews.

I've had a Vitamix for many , many years and no longer use it . It is heavy and hard to wash. I have arthritis and just can't handle it. I have no complaints about the way it works. It is sturdy and can handle any job. I have a Ninja and find it much easier to handle. The Vitamix is expensive but should last for years as mine has.

We have a vitamix but don't drag it out of the pantry often. Usually when we have frozen margaritas.

I still use my Waring blender, with ice crusher attachment, bought in 1961! The base and glass are very heavy.

Ninja. They will blend anything! The blade is like an ice auger. I foolishly laid it in a sink of soapy water the first time I used it. Still have the scar. Now I use the blender itself to wash it, or hand wash it and lay it next to the sink, so it is in plain sight. It grinds up ice cubes with no problem.

“Team” Vitamix here, too! Like daisychain, I was sick of having a blender that didn’t really do the job, i.e., blend—and that includes a classic heavy Waring Pro with the glass carafe.

Just bought #1 DD the Ninja--she loves it. Me, I have a cheap-o Oster. It struggles when I make hummus and glace pies but it we carry on.

We have a KA that seldom gets used.

Love my Blendtec! Twister jar is great for making nut butters. My son and his wife use theirs for making baby food, and more!

We were looking for a decent blender a couple of years ago. We don't use it that often, mostly for smoothies, so even though I was tempted by the Vitamix, I couldn't see forking out that kind of money.

We had a Ninja, and unlike the others here, I wasn't enthralled with it at all. Any time I put greens, pineapple, kale in my smoothies, it wouldn't grind them smooth. I was still chewing bits of greens and the core of the pineapple.

We bought a Harley Pasternak blender and we really like it. I always put frozen fruit instead of ice cubes in my smoothies. It was on sale for $199

another happy Vitamix owner!! over 4 years old, which is not old, but nary an issue. bought thru the blenderladyblog.com. bought re-conditioned to save a few bucks. use it multiple times a day.

also looked at blendtec and would buy either one. went with VM just b/c better deal.

like others have said, needed to crush ice and puree veggies and fruits. works wonderfully. no raspberry seeds!!

I've only ever owed "Oster" blenders. The first one I bought was when I had my oldest back in 78. It lasted me 20 years! I'm only my second one: also an Oster. I won't own a blender that doesn't have a glass carafe. I don't use mine very much, never really did. The first one I used for all four kids to make all their baby food with whatever we were having for dinner that day. (froze in ice cube trays to make lunches for them). Now that it's just my husband and I, I rarely bring it out at all. Since eating Keto, I don't really have a need for one. I used to make smoothies often but they're too full of sugar so the blender just collects dust.

I have a kitchenaid. It’s sturdy and has a glass carafe. I would only use glass even though it’s heavier. I have no issues making smoothies with frozen fruit. I like to pour oatmeal directly from the canister into the blender for my smoothies! I agree on if you’d like an older one to look at thrift stores or estate sales.

I have a Ninja that works great. Several friends had them and were dissatisfied. I suggested returning them (which they did) and they are completely satisfied with the replacements. Makes me wonder if some are knock offs.

I use mine daily for smoothies and other small batch food items like hummus etc.

I have an old Oster blender with a glass carafe, that I rarely used and I'm no longer sure where it even is. More recently I bought a nearly unused Ninja at a yard sale for $5 which I use more frequently, mostly because of easy setup and easy cleaning.

I think it is an older, less powerful model of Ninja than what you can buy today.

A brother-in-law has a VitaMix (IIRC) and while we were visiting him he used it to make something, and while it definitely is powerful, it was also so loud that I had to leave the room. I imagine it would be hard to use from a different room.

I have an Oster bar blender. I don't use a blender very often, but mine crushes ice, without any problems.

Debby, I could have written your post. I made baby food in the Osterizer too, ice cube trays. Now it's in the back of a low cupboard and rarely comes out. Just like you, I used to make smoothies, but too much sugar now, sadly. They were so good.

Vitamix. Yes, it's loud but it's really powerful so you don't have to run it for very long.

My (relatively) cheap Oster works great blending water. If I add a smidge of anything, as long as I scrape down the sides incessantly and am willing to devote 5 straight minutes of blend time, it works like a charm. A noisy, underpowered charm.

I have not replaced my ninja. It's not high on the list yet. Currently looking to replace our blu Ray players. I tell you this replacing everything is expensive and exhausting.

Tavencajun we bought a PS3 to use as a DVD player. It upgrades often. Connects to wifi and has Netflix on it. We have a 3D tv and the dvds work perfectly in it. Plus you can play games which I really dont do. PlayStation doesn’t have any games I like

Wirecutter is a great resource for product reviews.

https://thewirecutter.com/reviews/best-blender/

I have the ninja blender it came with a chopper also. I love it, it works great for frozen drinks. I got mine at Walmart when they first came out only $34

Hmmm... interesting that the review in Wirecutter shows that they only tested the BlendTec one year. It's as if they deemed it too expensive and decided not to consistently test it.

We've had a BlendTec for 5 or 6 years now and love it. We have the WildSide+ Jar, the FourSide Jar, and the Twister Jar.

I have a Hamilton Beach blender. That is the brand have used for many years. They last a long time and aren't expensive.

Lindsey, did you see their article Blend-off: Vitamix vs. BlendTec?

Thank you everyone for your replies! I appreciate the input.

Interesting that Wirecutter didn't even list Ninja.

While my blender, RIP, lasted 36 years, that doesn't necessarily mean it was a workhorse. I didn't use it all that frequently. I mostly used it to make smoothies or long ago, an occasional daiquiri.

I doubt I'll ever make my own peanut butter. LOL

With Amazon Prime day starting Monday, I may wait to see if this goes on the list.

If not, then we'll probably go with the Ninja. Right now Sam's has it for $99.

They are reviewed under the category "personal blenders". NutriBullet is their pick.

That website reviews everything. You just have to do a search.

https://thewirecutter.com/reviews/best-personal-blender/

Everything in my kitchen was Kitchenaid, execpt the Wolf stove top, so I purchased a KA. Love it! Also KA sells on ebay. It was refurbished. $45.

I actually do have an old Nutri Bullet, and as long as you get one with a more powerful motor, they are great. Mine is on its last legs, and I am making a lot more energy drinks and green shakes since I’ve retired. So I have thought more about getting a Vitamix. The 5200 seems to get good reviews everywhere I have looked. What other models do you all have to recommend? One with 2 containers? Do you use the dry container at all? I have a good coffee grinder. And what size containers?

I would also like to get rid of my older Waring blender which is pretty bare bones, and use the Vitamix for tomato sauce and things like that too.

I have an Oster blender with a glass pitcher and buttons from the 80s for food prep and frozen drinks and a Hamilton Beach milkshake maker from the 40s I use for milkshakes.

I've also been kicking around getting a new blender. I think the $90.+/- Ninja 1000 would be a good candidate for me. I looked at Vitamix and Blendtec but I don't think I want to spend that much. Hopefully Kohls or Macys has the Ninja and I can catch in sale or something.