Should I get a Blendtec or Vitamix blender?

[Arkaign]

I have a Vitamix, slightly older model (5000), have used it a lot, always been perfect. I've heard good things about the Blendtec as well. I think the VMix is a more industrial kind of product, if you watch food network or pay attention in smoothie shops/etc, Vitamix seems to dominate the professional market for these things.

That doesn't mean the Blendtec isn't just as good. I'd say given how hardcore the fans of these things are, they're probably both great as blenders.

 

[Jaepheth]

They're both fine machines.


The primary difference is the amount of control you have over the machine while it's in operation.
The way a friend of mine put it:

If you prefer driving automatics: get the Blendtec
If you prefer to drive manual: get the Vitamix

 

[Rumpltzer]

How about the Ninja. I saw it on TV.

I have a Ninja NJ600 with the large jar (no smaller jar). I got it for $56 + tax when Macy's was having some sort of sale.

I've been making smoothies in this thing four times a week for nearly two years. It's great for smoothies, and that's all I really do with it. I have no regrets about it at the $60 price-point.

It is loud, and I've put the blade into my thumb pretty badly while washing it. It has some nooks where berry chunks like to hide in the blade tower and lid. I'm a clean freak, and I hand wash my dishes so I keep a toothbrush at the kitchen sink to clean this thing.

Aside from that, I love this thing.

 

[RossMAN]

I have a Vitamix, slightly older model (5000), have used it a lot, always been perfect. I've heard good things about the Blendtec as well. I think the VMix is a more industrial kind of product, if you watch food network or pay attention in smoothie shops/etc, Vitamix seems to dominate the professional market for these things.

That doesn't mean the Blendtec isn't just as good. I'd say given how hardcore the fans of these things are, they're probably both great as blenders.

How easy or difficult is the cleanup after making smoothies?

 

[spacelord]

Our Blendtec tears through a smoothie in no time. Super easy.

Cleanup is super easy too.. fill with some water and run a few short pulse cycles. Then I wash it at the sink real quick.

 

[BoomerD]

How easy or difficult is the cleanup after making smoothies?

I rinse my Vitamix with hot water, then put in a couple of cups of hot water and a couple drops of dishwashing soap...run on high for a couple minutes, rinse and let it dry.

 

[Arkaign]

How easy or difficult is the cleanup after making smoothies?

Easy.

 

[Kaido]

I rinse my Vitamix with hot water, then put in a couple of cups of hot water and a couple drops of dishwashing soap...run on high for a couple minutes, rinse and let it dry.

Yup. Blend water + a bit of soap, rinse out, done. Takes 30 seconds :thumbsup:

 

[Arkaign]

Blendtec, by a long shot.

This is the kind of response that shows someone has no clue, and might be a company shill. Head to head reviews show they are both outstanding products. Blendtec seems to have more of a focus on home users, Vitamix seems to focus on industrial/food service customers. I don't think the end user would be disappointed with either.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XkWDyIpUo5E

"can't tell the difference"

Given that CostCo has great return policies and the ease of going to swap one out, the BlendTec makes a good choice for those with a CostCo membership I would think. I didn't have to buy my Vitamix, so I'm super happy with it. It's been utterly flawless and has demolished everything I've put into it with ease. Even fine details, like strawberry seeds, are obliterated into components so small they are undetectable.

 

[torpid]

Our costco sells vitamix and not blendtec. Is it a regional thing?

 

[momeNt]

I use the blender that the good lord jesus gave me. My mouth.

 

[ViviTheMage]

Love my vitamix ... I can make ice cream with it!

 

[Imported]

Our costco sells vitamix and not blendtec. Is it a regional thing?

I've seen both at ours.

 

[ManBearPig]

deleted

 

[dreamgirl]

I have a Vitamix, slightly older model (5000), have used it a lot, always been perfect. I've heard good things about the Blendtec as well. I think the VMix is a more industrial kind of product, if you watch food network or pay attention in smoothie shops/etc, Vitamix seems to dominate the professional market for these things.

That doesn't mean the Blendtec isn't just as good. I'd say given how hardcore the fans of these things are, they're probably both great as blenders.

As has been said they are both great blenders - amazing actually - and do the same things. The difference is in how you like to use your blender.

The Blendtec is the choice if you want the blender to do all the blending automatically and Vitamix if you like to have more control over the blending process. This Blendtec Vitamix comparison covers it very well.

 

[Imported]

Did i already post that I eventually bought a blendtec after making this thread and ended up returning it because it was fucking awful? Well thats what i did. I tried asking the blendtec people at a demo, but they claimed i wasnt putting the stuff in in the correct order. I assured him i was. I think it mustve been defective, though they claimed it was fine (without seeing it, lol). The "vortex" was non existent...it actually spewed stuff upwards. Couldnt even blend a watermelon slice cleanly. Id definitely get a vitamix if i wanted a high end blender. The tamp would definitely come in handy.

...why do people keep bumping this thread?

Why didn't you exchange the Blendtec for the Vitamix? Aren't they similar in price?

 

[ManBearPig]

deleted

 

[Arkaign]

Did i already post that I eventually bought a blendtec after making this thread and ended up returning it because it was fucking awful? Well thats what i did. I tried asking the blendtec people at a demo, but they claimed i wasnt putting the stuff in in the correct order. I assured him i was. I think it mustve been defective, though they claimed it was fine (without seeing it, lol). The "vortex" was non existent...it actually spewed stuff upwards. Couldnt even blend a watermelon slice cleanly. Id definitely get a vitamix if i wanted a high end blender. The tamp would definitely come in handy.

...why do people keep bumping this thread?

I bumped it because other people have bumped it and I have some feedback at least about the Vitamix (older model) from direct experience It appears that your thread is a popular one for the blender debate, and other people have asked questions in it, so it's still useful to people

Sorry to hear that your experience with the Blendtec was so bad. Yeah that's ridiculous that they said it wasn't defective without even looking at it. At least Costco returns are usually fairly easy. Do they even sell the Vitamix items at Costco?

 

[Imported]

Costco sells both.

 

[RossMAN]

I'm still torn between the Blendtec and Vitamix.

Blendtec $299 in my possession
Vitamix 5200 available for $375 at CostCo B&M
Vitamix $499 at CostCo B&M newer model with automatic presets for smoothies, etc.

There is something about the tried and true Vitamix and it's funky design which intrigues me.

http://www.costco.com/vitamix-schedule.html

 

[zerogear]

Have you looked into commercial blenders? Waring Professional Blenders are quite nice as well.

 

[Arkaign]

Have you looked into commercial blenders? Waring Professional Blenders are quite nice as well.

I think most of the upper Vitamix models actually are commercial blenders, as they are the most common ones I see in the food service industry. They simply sell to the public as well. I will look up the Waring ones though, that sounds intriguing.