Does anyone own either one of these blenders? If you had a choice between the two (or another equally great blender) which would you choose?
Vitamix 5200
Blendtec EZ Blender
The reviews seem split. I like the fact that the Blendtec has a bigger motor, a second pitcher, and is a little shorter height wise. But the Vitamix has a much better warranty, has a tamper, and that the blade is not fused to the pitcher. Does anyone have any experience with either blender? Thanks in advance.
I have a similar but older Vitamix that collects dust while my $24.99 Hamilton Beach semi-disposable blender gets a lot of work.
The Vitamix is too loud, heavy, loud, big and loud for everyday use.
If I was blending a LOT of ice, I’d use it more but for salsa and spice grinding, a smaller blender makes more sense.
I have an older Vitamix (maybe the 5000?) and I love it. It doesn’t seem to me to be any louder and only slightly larger than a standard blender, and it works about a gazillion times better.
I’m not sure what jnglmassiv uses his for, but I can say that for me, there is no comparison between the Vitamix and a standard blender. It does stuff that you simply can’t do with a $30 Target blender. It blends everything smoothly, without lumps or particles such as seeds. Ever try to blend raspberries? With the Vitamix, you’re not picking seeds out of your teeth for hours after you drink that berry smoothy. Same thing if you’re doing anything with dried chilies - the skins get totally blended, no little bits of hard dry skins in your salsa.
Blended soups, any kind of purees, smoothies, you name it, it does it.
From what I can gather, the Blendtec and the Vitamix are very similar as far as how well they work and all that. I’ve read varying reviews that say “the Blendtec tends to break” and “the Vitamix isn’t as robust as it should be” but they seem to be saying the same thing about both blenders. I can say I’ve had my Vitamix for maybe 5 years now, and haven’t had an issue. The Vitamix comes with a 7 year warranty versus only 1 for Blendtec, so that might weigh into your decision.
I have a Vitamix, about 15 years old. Don’t know the model number but it was the one they used in Starbucks stores for grinding coffee beans, and cost about $600 in the mid 1990s.
I was rather disappointed that the splines in the Vitamix blades wore out after about 5 years and I had to get a replacement part…but I’d used it a LOT so maybe that’s not such a bad deal. It’s been fine since.
I’m not familiar with the Blendtec brand. The Vitamix will pulverise almost anything (I’ve made flour, ground coffee beans and made 5,637 shakes and 2, 342 soups with it). For heavy use, I’d go with that or something similar. For occasional household light use, I imagine a $40 blender will do an equally fine job.