Review on Blendtec Total Blender Classic WildSide by Ashley Karch

I recently bought a BLENDTEC TOTAL BLENDER CLASSIC (TBC). I did a lot of research before buying a blender and was definitely torn between Vitamix and Blendtec. This is not a review of why Blendtec is better than Vitamix, just my opinion or research as to why I bought this blender. Price: One of my biggest selling points for Blendtec was the price. I bought TBC for $250* (*before tax). These included the engine, the wildside container, and the twister jar container. When I bought this blender, the base price of the Vitamix (E310) was $289*. However, Vitamix offered a 20% discount for frontline workers, bringing the price up to $231* (April/May 2020). This included only one 48 ounce container, and an additional 32 or 64 ounce container would cost well over $300*. I have a Costco membership and the E320 was $299*. However, it comes with 2 PCAs; and I wasn't a big fan of it. PCA reviews are terrible (most of them leak) and given the performance of these blenders I have no doubts about the reviews and understand why this is happening. The E320 comes with a 64 oz pod and, like the E310, significantly increases the price for an additional smaller pod. Power: The peak power of the TBC is 3.0 hp. That wasn't why I bought TBC, but I thought I should mention it. More power can be a blessing and a curse at the same time. Functionality: One of the most important factors for me was the "automatic" smoothie function. I make smoothies every weekday morning. At the same time I work in multitasking mode. My previous blender was a 10 year old Oster and running for 5 minutes made no difference and didn't warm the food. But I do know that if I accidentally made it with those high-speed blenders, I might get soup for breakfast. I've had times where I've spilled and left the Oster blender running an extra minute or two, so the automatic feature was a necessity rather than a luxury. TBC has a smoothie function compared to the entry-level Vitamix. Manipulation: key question. Does the lack of tempera hurt you? Simple answer if not. We often use a blender. I've made probably 30 smoothies, some juices in large and small batches, I've had to grind spices for several recipes and try to make ice cream. I used a Spice Twister and had no problems. First I had to ride a slow speed and then switch to a fast one, but it always worked for me in the end. As for ice cream, a tamper would undoubtedly come in handy. I had to scrape it several times to get the consistency I wanted. Would it make my life easier? Possibly, but it certainly hasn't stopped me from doing anything so far. Most importantly, they sell aftermarket rammers for the Wildside can. So if you are interested, you can always buy one. It costs $20* (only Wildside, not the Twister). Like a smoothie(?): I have to admit that the smoothie function alone doesn't give me the texture I want. I adjusted to this by running the batter function and then the smoothie function, which takes a little longer but delivers silky smooth smoothies every time. The batter runs relatively slowly with occasional stops (so everything mixes properly) and then the smoothie function mixes the ingredients. Having a timer is a plus, but I also hate the counter that counts by 2 every time I do it. Smoothies (because I use 2 cycles). Let's talk about first world problems! However, I use the following ingredients in my smoothie so you can decide whether or not it blends with your ingredients. (Chia Seeds, Flax Seeds, Hemp Seeds, Protein Powder, Vitamin Powder, Almonds, Almond Milk, Kale/Spinach, Berries & Dates) Blades: Everyone has said dull blades are cool, but I've always downplayed it. But now that I have a Blendtec I really appreciate dull blades considering how easy it is to clean the jar. Warranty: E310 comes with a 5 year warranty, TBC comes with an 8 year warranty. That was another plus, but not the reason that compelled me to cross the line. Overall, I think TOTAL BLENDER CLASSIC is a monster and maybe (based on reviews, not experience) falls a little short of the Vitamix, but all these little things add up. with excellent value for money and therefore a very good deal for what I will be doing. Other Models: In conclusion, I would say that if you buy Blendtec, the TOTAL BLENDER CLASSIC or 575 is probably the one for you. In my opinion, buying additional accessories is more beneficial than buying a touch slider or other Pro Series features.