Customer Reviews

Blendtec WildSide HP3A Blender - 3 Qt (96 oz) Container & 4" Blade - RED

5 star:		(16)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

After many months of research, comparing/contrasting the virtues of BlendTec, Vitamix and a lower priced L'Equip, I settled on the BlendTec Wildside. I've had it 5 days and used it four of those days to make smoothies. Be sure to read all of the information provided. It is very helpful! For example, when using frozen strawberries, it is best to allow them to soften a bit before placing them into the blender. They can be too cold and create an air pocket around the blade. When this happens, the food does not get blended as well. I read this, but decided to test it anyway. By Tuesday, I had my blend perfected. And, be sure to place things into the blender in a particular order. For example, ice is always last so it makes sense that frozen items should be on top of fresh (though this does not apply to the addition of ice cream. If I recall, that goes in first.) I will post another review as we try other items in the blender. I am looking forward to making soup!

The blender is loud, but only for a short period. The motor and blade are strong. The jar seems to work well.I was looking for a blender that could replace an old, run-of-the-mill one and an equally old food processor. The fact that I can make so many things in the BlendTec is a plus. I also like not having to switch blending jars to make dry vs. wet blends or use a plunger.

Initially, after seeing a VitaMix demo at Costco, I was hooked on the VitaMix, but I did not know the BlendTec existed. Then, a few months later, there was a Blendtec demo (right before Mother's Day) at Costco. I was sold. The Tortilla Soup recipe was awesome. The smoothies were well-blended.

For me, it really comes down to preferences. The two blenders are similar.The BlendTec is easy to clean, there's no plunger (and no need for one), and only one jar.

I love this blender, use it everyday.. I make fruit and green smoothies for my kids for breakfast. Before with my old blender I often had to pass the smoothie thru a strainer so they would not feel the seeds or pulp. Not anymore! because this blender pulverizes all, like raspberry and strawberry seeds, even orange seeds. I also add spinach, collard greens, lettuce.. to their smoothie and they don't feel a thing!
The other day I made soup on the blender and everybody loved it. No stove required.
I will soon try to make ice cream.
Some people say it's loud, but it's not. Not more than any other blender. It fits under the cabinet and it's easy to clean.
Love love love worth every penny!

This Blendtec Wild Side Blender with the 4 inch blades is the best blender I've ever used. We make lots of smoothies, soups and sauces and use our blender daily. For almost 20 years we had a Vitamix, which is far better than the typical blender you would buy in a department store, but the Vitamix jar tapers at the bottom, which makes it so food gets stuck. You have to use a plunger to force the food into the blades, and sometimes you have to stop the machine, take the jar off the motor and shake or stir it to loosen the food. You also have to add lots of water to the Vitamix to get it to blend correctly. Also, the Vitamix turns itself off if the motor gets too hot, a nice safety feature, but really the motor only gets too hot because it's not capable of doing the job and has to keep grinding away. The Blendtec Wild Side blender does not have any of these problems. It purees like a champ, with little added water and no need for plunging, shaking or stirring. The motor runs more quietly than any other blender I've had. The fact that the plastic jar is BPA FREE IS A MAJOR PLUS -- who wants endocrine disruptors in their food? No other blender I know of has a BPA free jar. The one improvement I would like to see is an option to buy a jar made of inert and lead free glass (are you listening, Blendtec company?). Also, all the GREAT STUFF I'm saying ONLY APPLIES TO THE 4 INCH BLADE WILD SIDE BLENDER (the one that has a fifth side to the jar). It is this extra side and the long blades that give it the strong blending power. A friend of mine has a Blendtec blender with three inch blades and a four sided jar that is no better than a Vitamix. If you can't afford these crazy prices, try to get one used. If you can afford it and use your blender a lot, this is the best blender made and you won't regret the price. I got the model with the red colored base and it is a tasteful deep red.

We had a Vitamix and the motor burned out. We like this one because of the simplicity of the controls. We make smoothies all the time and just push one button and everything is done. The Vitamix had a variety of switches and knobs that added confusion. We really like this blender.

Great everything blender. There is nothing it will not pulverize. Cleans easily. I have not been cut in cleaning it in3 weeks of ownership, and yes, I have used it. Looks good on the counter. The programs that change the speeds thruout takes items on the top and sucks them to the bottom. I never have to stir or tamp something to redistribute items. I would definitely recommend it and would buy one for my kids.

I have to admit I was nervous about this purchase. It's a whole lot of money for "a blender." But now that I have it I can't imagine every living without it. I use it daily for my green smoothies (aka Robyn Openshaw's Green Smoothie Diet) and have never been more amazed at what it can do. Anything I throw in there it can handle with easy. My girls complain about the noise, but it's so brief that it's not a problem. I've made dips and soups with such speed and ease that I have no idea how I cooked before I bought this. This is a machine well worth it's weight in gold. Easy to clean and an ease to use, you couldn't ask for more.

Our family is not what you would call particularly health-conscious or into any type of food fad, but we try to avoid fast food and get to the gym once a week. We wanted to try to get a little more fruit and vegetables into our diet and we had heard about green smoothies so we thought we would give it a try. After two months, we are all completely sold. My wife and I have one for breakfast and take a second to work. Our 5 year old demands them first thing every morning and even helps put in the kale, collard greens, chard, etc, that he wouldn't touch otherwise. My 1 year old points to the blender and downs them cheerfully each morning. Our energy is up and our cholesterol is down (50 points!). My wife's parents, who are really not in any way healthy eaters, were so impressed with the taste that they bought their own!
The blender itself is amazing and does not seem too incredibly loud for what it's doing. As others have suggested, it could use a tamper, but I only seem to have problems when I over-fill it and then I just have to run it again. Some have complained that this ups the cycle count, but I'm getting four smoothies out of two cycles, so even if you do care about that kind so thing, you're still doing fine with the big jar. It is super easy to clean. Just rinse within a minute or two of finishing. My biggest complaint is the cookbook that comes with it. I think most people buying these are interested in healthy, natural food, but they have you making ice cream out of artificial sweetener and non-dairy creamer. (Yuck!)
The Blendtec vs Vitamix debate, for us, was decided on the excessive height of the vitamix. There are good websites comparing the two, so if you're in the market for a great blender, you'll be happy with your choice as long as you do your homework.

I've seen the "will it blend" videos over the years and enjoyed for the entertainment. After I saw the $400 price sticker, I bought a $150 blender from Target. My aunt is a health nut and after she told me how great this thing is, I figured I will spend the money to try it out. It is like a wood chipper, it will blend EVERYTHING!!! If you are a health nut you should get one; if you want to make the best smoothies you should get one; if you want to have the best mix drinks you should get one.

I was kicking myself for spending almost $500 on a blender. After watching the brilliantly executed "Will it blend?" videos on YouTube, I was hooked.... My old blender left chunks in my dressings and couldn't emulsify my sauces like I wanted. Straight from the box this blender has been a workhorse in the kitchen, and I haven't put it away in a year - it has a permanent residence on the counter now. The blender is compact (which is why we purchased this instead of the VitaMix), and the container is HUGE. I've made soup for 8 with no problem! We use this blender multiple times daily.

I've made carrot/coconut/avocado soups, dressings, smoothies, sauces and purees with a variety of ingredients of various consistencies. Every dish comes out smooth and flawless. There's a learning curve on the blender, so reading the manual is a must - but completely worth the time.

The cons (things that others have complained about) - 1) If you're only blending ¾ cup of something, the blade is too high up to really get a handle on the liquid. 2) If you shove a lot of frozen stuff in, the frozen will just freeze outside the path of the blades. 3) It's loud.

The pros - 1) With a blender this awesome, why oh why would you only want to blend ¾ of a cup of something? 2) Add juice, will blend. Alternately, add frozen stuff last and/or let it soften a little. 3) What do you expect from a 3 hp motor??
I fully expect this blender to last for 30 years, but if for some reason it doesn't... I'd buy another one in a heartbeat. Best. Purchase. Ever.

I am new to the blender world and I gota say....whao. The blender will liquify rocks. I have read reviews about the blade being 4" vs 3" perhaps the 3" blade might be better (don't have anything to compare it to) once and a while a chunk will float (once in a while) but the blender rocks. I guess, most folks own a vita mix? When I tell them how rocken the Blendtec is, they say "blend tec, who?" its a perfect size, fits right into the cabinet and cleans really easily. Its a real good buy, I'll be purchasing another one for my folks around Christmas.

Good luck with the purchase its one that you can be using everyday.