NOW Sports Nutrition 300W Personal Blender with 2 BPA-Free Cups & Lids - Dishwasher Safe Portable Smoothie Maker for Protein Shakes, Meal Prep & On-the-Go Nutrition - Perfect for Gym, Office & Home Use

Easy to use. Excellent investment and easy to cleanExcellent blender for after workout shakes!This is the third blender I've tried (besides my Ninja) for my morning smoothie. For reference, I'll tell you that I use a lot of HARD seeds in my shakes. I generally use frozen fruit (blackberries, etc), pumpkin seeds, hemp seeds (like little pebbles), Flax seeds, broccoli, spinach, and anything else I can come up with. :-)I first started out using my Ninja. While it is strong enough to pulverize the toughest stuff, the pitcher is 72 oz, and I was making an 8-16 oz smoothie, so most of the ingredients were ending up stuck to the sides, and I didn't get the benefit of the powerful motor. Besides that, I had to clean a 72 oz pitcher every day, throwing away whatever I couldn't scrape off the sides back into my shake.My next option was https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B004T4LYEO/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1, which I used until the base no longer engaged with the blades. There was a basic design flaw on that brand, requiring the user to twist the bottle into position as the blades engaged. This eventually stripped the gears, making the blade assembly useless.I replaced that one with the bigger motor, supposedly better version of the same product, https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B00SAR9M5O/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1. The benefit was that I could use the extra bottles and lids I had already purchased for the previous motor, but the disadvantage was that the blades stripped almost immediately, The smoky smell of rubber burning was unappetizing when making my breakfast.All that to say that this product is the one I've been looking for! It pulverizes even the seeds and nuts in my shakes. Flax does not do well if mixed into the shake, but if I blend it (with this blender or my Ninja) separately to make flax meal first, then I can add that into the shakes and it works great.Pros: Blends even the toughest nuts and seeds into a manageable texture. Two separate bottle sizes and lid types gives me lots of options, or my kids can use one, while I use another. Easy enough for my kids to use without my supervision. Lid locks into place BEFORE engaging motor, so the gears won't strip with the movement.Cons: The only drawback is that the lid has to lock into place with some pressure. If you twist the bottle to lock the lid into place, you run the risk of tightening the lid so much you can't open it. :-) (Ask me how I know.) But if you hold only the lid while tightening it into the base, you'll be find. The top of the bottle is a pretty big diameter for my small hands. I've been able to open it every time, but occasionally it is a challenge. My middle-school girls, though, have small hands, too, and they've also been able to open it most of the time.Pro tip: I bought these straws (https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B01CX9PGIG/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1) and they are great for thicker liquids!This little blender is a workhorse! It’s small enough to take along on a trip for my protein shakes, and I love the 2 containers with lids! I still use the one I bought 7 years ago, but it’s now in my RV. BOUGHT A SECOND ONE FOR THE HOUSE. Great product!Very disappointed in this blender! The concept is good however, it’s cheaply made.I’ve contacted the seller and didn’t get any help or resolution other than to call the manufacturer as I bought this 3 months ago!The silicon seal keeps breaking so your stuck with cups and a motor and no replacement tops!DO NOT BUY!My second purchase and the same thing happened and I almost swallowed the silicon strip that broke off ( yucky) this time.Waste of money!This is specifically made for blending supplements, sports drinks and fruit smoothies, and it's perfect for that job. It has more than enough power and doesn't scream like it's about to spew its guts out. It's not a substitute for a general purpose blender, as the blending jar is also the commuter-gulp cup. It would get frustrating to use for general kitchen tasks.You may want to put a trace of vegetable oil on the gasket where the cup screws down to the blade-base so it'll last longer. Don't be like I was before AM coffee and forget to tighten that ---before--- flipping it over to blend ;-)IIRC, it was around $30 when I got mine, and right now it seems to be on sale for $25, which is ridiculously cheap. If you're frequently making sports or diet drinks, buy one of these, you can't lose.I liked the size and that it was easy to operate & clean.The nob to turn it on has cracked, its past the return date needless to say I am disappointed it only lasted 4 months and I can't return it now.Very utility