Oster Pro 1200 Smoothie Blender with Glass Jar & 24oz To-Go Cup, Countertop Kitchen Blender with 7 Speeds, 1200W Power, Brushed Nickel

Why it's worth it

The Oster Pro 1200 gives you a thermal-shock-resistant glass jar, dual-direction blades and seven speeds. It won't match a Vitamix on kale stems, but for everyday shakes it's a full-size blender that costs a fraction as much.

The glass jar is the reason this one stands out. Plastic jars soak up smells. After a week of chocolate protein shakes, a Tritan pitcher carries a faint chocolate ghost into your next blend, and no amount of washing fully clears it. Glass doesn't do that. If this is going to be a dedicated shake blender, the material matters more than another few hundred watts would.

The blades spin in both directions, which sounds gimmicky and isn't. Reversing the rotation breaks up the vortex, so dry protein powder gets pulled into the liquid instead of riding the jar walls in a clump. Combined with the wide blade span, it means fewer stop-and-shake interruptions than most blenders in this price bracket.

From our review of 11 blenders for smoothies and protein shakes, by David Sinclair, Managing Editor

What we like

• +The glass jar is the reason this one stands out
• +The blades spin in both directions, which sounds gimmicky and isn't
• +Seven speeds plus three presets cover the range you'll actually use, and there's a 24-ounce to-go cup in the box

What to know

• –Glass is heavy. Lifting a full jar off the base with one hand isn't comfortable, and dropping it is a different kind of accident…
• –On the hardest loads — thick kale stems, a jar packed with ice, fibrous celery — you'll notice the ceiling