5 Best Blenders for Shakeology 2018 : A Buying Guide

Protein shakes are an easy, delicious and intelligent way to get all of the required nutrients for the long day ahead. Regardless of whether you are trying to build muscle mass or simply live a healthier lifestyle, you will find that protein shakes can be specially made to fit your needs.

Unfortunately, if you wish to buy protein shakes on the go, be prepared to pay a somewhat outrageous markup on something which you can easily make yourself, and even personalize the flavors.

Why Should You Blend?

There are plenty of reasons why using a blender to make smoothies is an excellent choice when it comes to maintaining your physical health. Extracted and blended food is far easier to digest in the form of smoothies, whether you are making protein shakes or simple fruit smoothies.

You will find that it puts far less strain on your digestive tract when you enjoy your blended meal substitute. This is ideal for athletes as you will not want your body to be in the process of exerting itself through digestion as you work out.

Before we get into our in-depth reviews of 5 best blenders for shakeology, we will go over some of the characteristics that make one blender better than another.

  • After all, while reviews can certainly point you in the right direction, it will be difficult to find the right blender for your needs if you don’t know which aspects to search for.
  • Knowing what goes into making a good product is important as you can then be a better judge of two similarly priced and outwardly similar models of blender.
  • Once we have finished our rundown of the most important features to look for in your future blender for shakeology, we will move on to our reviews of the top five blenders you will find available online.

If you already know the aspects you are searching for in a blender, feel free to skip down to our review section. However, we would certainly recommend reading the first half of our buying guide as well as a bit of a refresher on what goes into making the best blender.

back to menu ↑

Aspects to Search for in the Best Blender

There are a few things to consider when trying to pick up the perfect blender:

  1. Affordability
  2. Number of Blending Speeds
  3. Motor Power
  4. Types of Blades & more

 

Affordability

One of the most important things to search for when buying a blender is a decent price. While it is often true that products with better build quality and more features will be more expensive, this is not always the case.

One of the important reasons to be up to date and educated about the best blender reviews is that there just may be an inexpensive yet highly effective product that slips in under the radar. Do not fall into the trap of thinking that higher price automatically equates to higher quality.

While it is important to search for a well-priced blender, this aspect is one of the more personal choices as everyone has a different budget when it comes to buying a new blender. If you would rather spend no more than thirty dollars on your new blender, you will be looking at a whole different category of products than others.

Some customers may need a blender for more than just shakeology so they may opt for a model more than 100 dollars. The price will very much depend on your needs.

While there is no doubt that this is a highly individual category, there are still things you can do to ensure that you minimize the cost of your product, even if you choose one of the pricier options.

These can include purchasing products with included lifetime warranties, so you will not have to replace your blender due to factory mechanical failure. Another option is to wait until your preferred product goes on sale, and picking it up for 25 to 50 percent off.

 

Number of Blending Speeds

The next thing to search for in your new blender is the number of blending speeds which come included. Depending on your needs, you may only prefer one blending speed.

For example, if you are only using your blender for shakeology, you will find that a single blending speed will often suffice, especially if your blender is specifically geared towards making shakes.

Shakeology blenders tend to use one speed as protein shakes tend to have a similar consistency to one another and a single speed blender cuts down on manufacturing costs and builds complexity. However, if you plan on using your blender for more than one application, it would help immensely to have a few more speeds than only a single option.

This will make it easier to crush ice if you intend to make drinks like milkshakes or perhaps margaritas.

Depending on the number of blade speeds, your blender may also be used as a low-power food processor in a pinch. Keep in mind that it is not recommended to do this often as this will put undue strain on your product’s motor.

This does depend on the model of blender you end up purchasing, however.  More expensive and complex models can be quite effective when it comes to being used as a replacement for a full-size food processor.

The advantage to using a blender instead is that you will have to purchase one less appliance for your kitchen. You also have the advantage of a blender taking up far less space than a full-size food processor.

This allows you to more effectively conserve countertop space when in use and cupboard space when in storage. For this reason, a powerful blender would be a good choice if space is at somewhat of a premium in your kitchen.

 

Motor Power

Speaking of blending speeds, we can naturally move to the next aspect to search for, which is one of the more crucial decisions. When deciding on the motor power for your blender, you must consider your intended use for the product.

If you only plan on using your blender for shakeology, you will find that a low to medium power motor will be more than sufficient for your needs. This is due to the reason making shakes does not usually involve blending high-density ingredients.

This category is somewhat similar to your choice when it comes to the number of blending speeds you may need. If you plan on using your blender for a wider variety of tasks, including crushing ice and making other, more complex recipes and drinks, you may require a more powerful motor. A motor with a power of 600 watts should be sufficient to make any protein shake you choose.

You will only need a more powerful model if you would like a more versatile blender which is capable of additional applications. This is not to say that a 600-watt blender would be entirely ineffective when it comes to other applications.

It is simply a matter of a more powerful blender operating more effectively, like a less powerful model would struggle with higher volumes of ice and other ingredients which are more difficult to blend.

 

Blending Modes

This category is somewhat similar to blending speeds, but there are a few key differences which should be considered. Once again, if you are searching for a blender which you will use exclusively for shakeology, you will not require anything more than a single blending mode.

If you would like a little more versatility out of your blender, you may opt for a model which features several different blending modes, such as “pulse” and “crush ice.”

These modes make it easier to accomplish certain tasks. For instance, if you use the crush ice mode, as you would expect, the blender will crush ice more effectively. Pulse modes and reverse modes are more effective for when you are blending, and you would like to ensure that the ingredients at the bottom of your blender near the blades are not being missed by the blades.

 

Ease of Cleaning

One more aspect to search for when it comes to buying your new blender for shakeology is how easy it is to clean it up after you are done making your protein shakes. Nobody wants to sit around for an hour cleaning their blender after making a shake which they will drink in five minutes.

Many customers neglect to consider this aspect, instead opting for blenders with an outrageous amount of motor power and extra features.

Believe us, when it comes to the list of the top crucial features to search for in the best blender for shakeology, ease of cleaning is right up there. It is simply a quality of life feature which will make it easier to stick to making smoothies and protein shake regularly. After all, if you dread bringing your blender out every time you make a protein shake due to the arduous cleaning process, it is not very likely that you will continue using your blender regularly.

Buying a product which is both effective and easy to use is one of the most intelligent choices you can make when deciding on your purchase. A blender which is easy to clean is almost always easy to use.

While there is no universal sign that a blender is easy to clean, you will want a model which breaks down into a small number of easily accessible parts. A blender which is overly complicated and features an excessive number of parts will almost always be annoying to clean and reassemble.

 

Types of Blades

There are many types of blades which may come included with your blender. Some blenders may only come with a single blade type included. This blade type can either be specialized, in the case of blenders which are designed exclusively for shakeology or making smoothies, or it can be a single versatile blade which is effective in all manner of applications.

You will find that specialized blade types will do a better job of what they were designed for.

If you are searching for a less versatile blender which you will only use for shakeology, do not hesitate to find a blender which features a blade optimized for making protein shakes. These blades will not be as thick as the blades used on blenders which are meant to crush large amounts of ice in a short span of time.

More complex blender models will often include a large number of replaceable blades that may be used for all manner of applications. While this certainly improves the versatility of your product, it also ups the cost.

Besides different types of blades, some models may also come with two of the same blade, so that you may replace the original blade once it gets dull. This is typically only done with high power models that will be in use for a long time in very strenuous circumstances, however.

 

Type of Blending Receptacle

You must also consider the container in which your protein shake will be blended. Many blenders which are made specifically for shakeology will feature a container which is essentially an inverted cup. Once you are done blending your protein shake, all you must do is flip over your blender, unlock your cup and you will be ready to drink your protein shake.

Most blenders which feature blending receptacles such as these also include covers made for the cups so that you may take your smoothie or shake on the go. This is simply a matter of convenience and reducing the number of containers which will have to be cleaned once you are done making your protein shake.

 

back to menu ↑

Product Reviews

Magic Bullet Nutribullet 12 Piece Blender

Check Price on Amazon

Specifications:

  • Features a high torque power base
  • Features a 600-watt motor
  • Features cyclonic action blade design
  • Includes one tall cup and two short cups
  • Includes one flat blade and one emulsifying blade

If you are looking for one of the best and most cost effective blenders you can buy for shakeology, look no further than the Nutribullet, manufactured by Magic Bullet. The Nutribullet is a prime example of a blender which is made primarily for shakeology and smoothies.

You will find that the 600-watt motor is at the perfect power level where the blender will not be overly powerful but will still be able to make short work of most protein shake and smoothie ingredients.

The inclusion of three cup receptacles, one tall and two short, ensures that you will be ready to drink your protein shake the minute you have finished blending it. This also makes it far easier to clean up as you will not need to wash any cups in addition to the blender itself.

Speaking of cleaning, this model of a blender is incredibly easy to clean up, with wide cups that are easily accessible and an open base design that simplifies the process. If you are looking for a blender specifically designed for shakeology, this is a perfect choice.

 

Ninja Professional Blender With Nutri Ninja Cups

Check Price on Amazon

Specifications:

  • 1100 watts of motor power
  • Features Total Crushing technology
  • Features extra large capacity
  • Includes 2 16 oz Nutri Ninja cups with travel lids
  • BPA free construction
  • Dishwasher safe

If you are searching for a blender which combines versatility with ease of use when it comes to shakeology, you will find that the Ninja Professional Blender is another excellent choice.

This particular purchasing option comes with two included Nutri Ninja cups which makes it easier to blend your smoothie and get going. This is particularly the case if it is early in the morning and you need to get to work on time while having a healthy and efficient meal substitute.

The actual reason for this blender’s high versatility is the inclusion of an 1100 watt motor for increased blending power. With this motor, you will be hard pressed to find something which will be difficult to blend.

While it is a little pricier than some of the competition, if you plan on making more than just shakes and smoothies, this blender would be the right choice. A professional blender may seem like overkill for shakeology, but the extra power of the motor allows this product to be far more versatile.

 

Hamilton Beach Personal Single Serve Blender

Check Price on Amazon

Specifications:

  • 14 oz single serve blender
  • Useful for smoothies and shakes
  • Includes a travel lid for blending receptacle
  • Features stainless steel blades
  • Features one-touch blending

The Hamilton Beach Personal Single Serve Blender is one of the more viable options on this list. Priced at around 20 dollars, you will not find a cheaper blender which still features good build quality and decent reliability.

Unlike most 20 dollar blenders, this particular model should last you longer than a few months of use. Of course, this is as long as you do not attempt to blend anything beyond this model’s capabilities. The motor is somewhat weak in comparison to pricier models

While the motor does leave a bit to be desired, you will find that it is powerful enough to make any shakes or smoothies you need. One of the downsides to this product is the relatively small blending capacity, but that is to be expected from a single serve product.

While this makes it harder to make a lot of shakes, it also makes the blender easier to clean as it is naturally smaller than many other models. This appliance is excellent if you are looking for a cheap personal shake blender.

 

Oster Simple Blend 100 10 Speed Blender

Check Price on Amazon

Specifications:

  • Features 10 blending speeds
  • Features 700 watts of power
  • Features a stainless steel blade
  • Features a pulse setting
  • Features a six cup blending jar
  • BPA-free and Dishwasher safe

The Oster Simple Blend 100 is another model which is lower on the price spectrum but still does not sacrifice quality or long-term reliability. While the Hamilton Beach model was designed for single person use, this model is more effective if you plan on making larger smoothies or protein shakes.

 The six cup blending jar is made of BPA-free plastic. While it does not include a travel lid, this model does come with added Blend and Go cup so you can speed up your morning routine.

The choice of ten blending speeds is a nice addition which is somewhat rare to see on products in this price range. The 700-watt motor is powerful enough to blend most smoothies and shakes, so you will have little trouble using this blender for shakeology.

On the other hand, it does lose a little bit of versatility as this blender will struggle to make it through thicker blends. This product is a good choice if you are looking for an inexpensive blender which does not sacrifice capacity.

 

Nutri Ninja Pro BL456

Check Price on Amazon

Specifications:

  • Effective at extracting nutrients and vitamins
  • Made of BPA-free materials
  • Features Nutri Ninja Pro Extractor Blades
  • Includes 1 24 oz cup and one 18 oz cup with sip and seal lids
  • Includes a 75 recipe guide

This is another model of blender which is specifically designed with shakeology in mind. The Nutri Ninja Pro BL456 replaces the blending jar with cups which are ready to be used on the go. The included sip and seal lids make it easy for you to blend your morning protein shake and bring it with you on the way to work or school.

While the motor may not be powerful enough to make this blender very versatile, it was designed with the role of shakeology blender in mind, so this is not such a bad downside.

Due to the inclusion of the blend and go cups, you will find that this model of a blender is particularly easy to clean, which is a great feature when you are in a rush in the morning. In addition to its ease of cleaning, this model is also very reliable, as long as the motor is not overstressed. If you would like a shakeology blender ideal for use when in a rush, then this model will likely be the perfect choice for you.

 

back to menu ↑

Conclusion

We hope that this buying guide has helped you come to a decision about the best shakeology blender for your needs. As you can see, there are plenty of choices, and the right model for you depends on your needs. Regardless of whether you are looking for a personal protein shake blender, or perhaps a larger, more versatile model, you have a large variety of choices at your disposal.