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28 of 29 found the following review helpful:
 Smooth as Silk--and Gorgeous, too. Jul 11, 2009
By Jennifer Ann Slatton
"Homeschooling Mama of 5"
This will probably sound shallow to the blender connoisseurs out there, but after reading the reviews comparing and contrasting Blendtec with Vitamix (its main rival), I chose the Blendtec in the end because I couldn't stand the idea of paying a fortune for the Vitamix that is (in my opinion) really unattractive :). The Blendtec, on the other hand, is fantastically sharp-looking on the counter. I use it daily and it performs like a dream. It is goof-proof. Decide what you want it to do and push the corresponding button. It turns itself off when it's done, and counts down the seconds digitally while it's working.
I use it almost solely for smoothies and it is every bit as good as the Vitamix that I borrowed from a friend for several weeks when I was test-driving these (expensive) machines. When you're spending so much cash on a kitchen appliance, you don't want buyer's remorse. I was thrilled to discover the Blendtec right before I was about to plunk down $500 for a Vitamix.
Another perhaps shallow reason I chose Blendtec over Vitamix is that the Vitamix is too tall to rest under my upper cabinets, whereas the Blendtec is just the right height. But if you think about it, this is not a trivial difference, because one is much more likely to use a machine that doesn't have to dragged out of hiding.
In my situation, the decision to get rid of my perfectly operable and nearly-new Cuisinart and to pay so much for the Blendtec was a matter of health. I have a young husband with stage IV cancer and I thought it was imperative to have a top-notch machine to make healthful smoothies and shakes into which I could add supplements like protein powders and extra vitamins and minerals. The Cuisinart, while a nice machine, just couldn't touch what the Blendtec does, which is make smooth as silk drinks without any grit or unblended material at the bottom.
According to the manual, this machine can also create ice cream and warmed soup. Once my husband is cured, I will branch out beyond smoothies and hope to enjoy many years of fun and experimentation with this gorgeous workhorse!
3 of 3 found the following review helpful:
 started to go at 117 cycles Nov 19, 2011
By BCSAlaska
"AKSmoke"
I purchased one from a Costco show. I use it for smoothies and soup. The male spindle at the base of the jar is starting to grind away, leaving fine black schmutz on the bottom of the jar. I can see that the bottom of the teeth are being ground away at an angle. So here's the catch: you spend >$400 on this thing, and the warranty is only on the base. They've designed the teeth at the bottom of the blender jar to be softer than the main motor teeth, and only warranty the motor base. Genius, but wrong. I'm pissed, and I hope Costco will accept mine for a refund. Look at other brands, avoid the Blendtec.
1 of 1 found the following review helpful:
Best micronizer ever Dec 04, 2010
By Stephani Meyer
"Pippi poet"
I use this blender daily to micronize my foods for better absorption of nutrients. I've used other high powered blenders and the Blendtec is hands down superior.
13 of 19 found the following review helpful:
Ooh. Pretty Colors, but it wears out quickly Feb 08, 2010
By Bri
This shiny red hummer will likely cost you another $50 a year to operate according to a K-Tech representative we spoke to on the phone last month.
We've had our blender for nearly 5 years, but won't be patronizing K-TEC, including their BlendTec product line, anymore. The pitcher has a gear fitting on the bottom that tends to wear out every 2 years. They blamed us the first time because we had put the pitcher in the dish washer a couple of times. Thinking they were an honest business, we coughed up the $100 to have them ship a new pitcher. Around 2 years later, the exact same problem started happening. This time they admitted that their pitchers only last about 2 years with regular use.
Here are the symptoms:
* Grey powder between the pitcher and the base. That's powder from the metal shaft in the pitcher grinding up.
* Sharp grinding noise at the beginning right before the blades really spin.
Eventually the shaft fitting wears down completely and won't work anymore, requiring you to spend another $100 or more (as prices rise) every other year for a new pitcher.
Personally, I find this to be a total rip-off when old blenders that cost a fraction of the price and made in the late 70's are still able to work (albeit without the same amount of torque) for 30 years and this one can't even last 3!
What did we use it for? Smoothies. That's it. Ice is the toughest thing it's had to deal with.
It's a bad mechanical design for the consumer, though a profitable one for K-Tech.
Stay away from K-Tec and BlendTec and tell your friends to look for alternatives.
 8 times better than average blender? Mar 21, 2012
By B. Swafford
This blender absolutely does what it is advertised to do, but for the average blender user the extra cost may not be worth it. I sometimes have to run a smoothie through twice to ensure full blending and so far the result is on par with my $50 basic blender. Though it should last longer. Of the Blendtec models the HP3A is really the best choice. It has the greatest number of cycles and 4 programmable buttons. Some of the cycles seem to be useless where you are expected to just use the pulse button, but I do like that it has variable speed programs for the every day things.
I think some of the issues people have with teeth wearing out has to do with not holding the jar or ensuring its on straight before blast off. You really have to hold on to the jar and press it down because the extra power of this blender will shake and rattle the jar pretty good. As other Blendtec reviews have mentioned the lid is a real pain point. I can't help but throw a few extra things in so the jar is a bit full but nowhere near the top, but I almost always get liquid oozing out the top of the lid because it is made to vent. I feel I should have gotten two lids. A vented lid for hot and a more solid lid for everything except hot soups. For the cost I wouldn't expect the lid to leak or have to sit and hold it. It is also loud as hell so if you like to blend in the morning you should know it will wake people up. The newest Blendtec Designer is much quieter if noise is important to you ( or your spouse).
A specific note about the red model: The red is more of a crimson or darker red than the Kitchen Aid red if you care about your appliances matching.
See all 6 customer reviews on Amazon.com
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