A good blender is a kitchen necessity, for making smoothies and shakes among other things. Even just crushing up some ice for that tall iced coffee.
1. Braun PowerMax Jug Blender
The PowerMax can really blend, with 525W of power. That will make short work of just about anything you want in your smoothie. Only 5-speed settings but there are plenty of other handy features like the huge 58 oz blending jug and handy holes in the lid for liquid addition while blending.
2. Cuisinart Smart Power 7-Speed Chrome Blender
This little machine has 350W of blending power, and a nice size (40 oz) blender jar. It comes in 2 varieties of chrome finish or white. You can also crush ice in the Smart Power without adding extra liquid. Plenty of control with 7 speed settings.
3. Bosch Porche Designer Stand Blender
One of the few jug or stand blenders I've seen that doesn't have a glass container. This stylish blender deserves space on the counter, not under the sink. It's not just a pretty face either, with 450W of power and a jug that holds 6-cups of liquid.
4. Braun Hand Held Blender
If you want something more compact, try a hand blender rather than a stand blender. Most hand blenders are short on power, but not this Braun model. This efficient unit has a full 400W of power and also comes with a whisk and chopper attachments. You can even mount it on the wall to save counter space.
5. Back to Basics Personal Blender
How about a blender for folks on a tight budget? The motor is 350W and the jug holds 24oz. Small but just fine for making those single-serving smoothies. Kind of looks like a lava lamp to me.
6. Black and Decker Crush Master
They don't call this the "crush master" for nothing. The motor has 475 Watts of power to blend just about anything. Lots of flexibility with 10 speed settings, and the cannister holds 48 ounces. The lid has a handy 2-oz measuring cup in it, great for adding a shot or two of your favorite spirits.
7. Oster Classic Beehive Stand Blender
Another fine looking blender, with a modern chrome finish. There are only 2 speed settings, but the 500W motor in a strong feature in itself. The glass container holds 40-oz and has clear measurement markings on it so you can make your smoothie recipe precisely.