Quick Overview
FEATURES
QUALITY
COST
Pros
Cons
Smoothies seem to be a trend that isn’t going anywhere. Given the popularity of smoothies and other mixtures, it’s essential to choose a blender or blender system that will give you the results you want. Blenders aren’t just for making smoothies, either. Once you’ve started blending, you’ll likely want to use your blender for other mixtures as well.
You don’t want to limit yourself in your creations. You can go so far as to make meringue or even grind your own coffee beans using your blender.
With blenders, sometimes it really does come down to getting what you pay for in terms of quality and durability. Today, we are going to take a look at Blendtec Total Blender with WildSide+ Jar & Twister Jar. A model made by one of the most trusted and reliable manufacturers of blenders.
Blendtec Total Blender with Wildside+ Jar & Twister Jar
Blendtec is most well-known for building reliable and durable blenders. They are also known for reinventing the product every couple of years or so, with design changes that make operation smoother and easier.
This particular model, the Blendtec Total Blender Classic Set, comes from the manufacturer’s classic line of residential products and uses the classic base.
The difference between the full classic model and this one is the WildSide jar. That jar has a longer blade and is wider than the classic version. It also has a larger capacity so that you can make more all at one time.
As such, the base of the jar is wider in the Wildside model, so you are less likely to get caves to form right above the blades. Instead, you can create bigger and colder recipes quite quickly, basically in the same amount of time as a smaller batch with a different jar. The WildSide jar is an excellent option for creating smoothies, given its design.
The manufacturer no longer sells its basic WildSide jars. Instead, it is the WildSide+ Jar, which is what you get with this model. This is a further improvement that allows for blending at very high speeds. It has an extra-wide base and what is called a “wild” side. That side helps to form a smoother, faster blending.
What’s Included
Your package includes a BPA-free, almost three-quart jar along with a four-inch blade. That blade is new and quite large, allowing you to make just about anything in a shorter amount of time. The size of the blade also means that you can make larger batches quite easily.
The other contents of your package include a WildSide Jar, the base of the blender, which is the total blender classic base, a Twister lid with the scraper tines, a Twister jar, a spatula, a gripper lid, and a recipe booklet.
The recipe booklet is 16 pages, but you also receive a cookbook that has over 200 pages of recipes you can try. In addition, you receive a Quick Start Guide for easier use along with a DVD to help guide you through getting used to your new blender. Finally, the blender comes with a seven-year warranty from the manufacturer.
Overview of Features
This blender from Blendtec comes with plenty of higher-end features, as you might expect from the manufacturer. The motor is impressively powerful at three horsepower, 1560 watts, 13 amps, and 120 volts.
This system is also quite easy to use, with plenty of features that make it user-friendly. There are six different cycles already programmed for ease of use. They allow the motor to slow down, speed up, and shut off when needed and without your intervention.
Overall, the system is quite durable. It is made from really great materials, like polycarbonate, which is resistant to both wearing and scratching and is the material used in the manufacturing of football helmets.
The motor is also built with durability and longevity in mind. It is a low friction dual ball-bearing one that should last for plenty of years to come with proper use.
How to Use
The Blendtec Total Blender with WildSide+ Jar & Twister Jar may take some getting used to, but once you get a feel for it, you’ll likely be able to operate it with your eyes closed. If you want to see what you get with the product, you can watch an unboxing video.
If you actually want to see it in action before you decide to purchase, you can also watch that video. There are plenty of videos where you can get a sneak peek of the blender. The most interesting is the use of the Twister Jar.
Alternatives
This blender doesn’t have a lot of drawbacks, but the biggest one is that it is quite loud when you are using it. Of course, blenders are usually a bit noisy, but this one is quite loud, which is the biggest complaint of its users.
It is possible to find quieter blenders. One of your options is the Hamilton Beach SoundShield 3-Speed Blender, which is designed to limit noise specifically.
In addition to a quiet operation, which is provided by a two-part noise shield, this blender gives you three-speed settings ranging from high to low as well as 950 watts of power. You get a 52-ounce jar that is dishwasher safe. You also receive a drip-free spout and stainless steel blades for increased durability.
There are plenty of other alternative types of blenders available as well, but you need to find one that will still suit your needs. For example, you can look at hand blenders and see if one of them can give you the mixtures you want.
Conclusion
Blendtec is known for making blenders for a reason. The manufacturer is always recreating and redesigning in order to provide consumers with the best performing products possible.
That trend continues with the Blendtec Total Blender with WildSide+ Jar & Twister Jar. Its only real drawback is that it can be a bit noisy.
However, with the power and options available, you may not want to forfeit all you get with this system just because it is a bit louder than some other alternatives. You’ll need to decide how important noise is to you.