Ninja Blast Portable Blender Review: Perfect for Van Life

In this Ninja Blast portable blender review, I am going to dive into my honest thoughts on this must-have for anyone looking to blend on the go. Whether you are crushing ice for a smoothie or mixing up a post-workout protein shake, this blender has quickly become my favorite travel companion. As someone who lives the van life full-time, I can confidently say that the Ninja Blast is always with me, living in my van for most of the year. However, it does have a few quirks you should know about before buying.

Let’s dive in!

Should You Buy the Ninja Blast?

The Ninja Blast has taken over the top spot in my personal portable blender rankings, surpassing the Cuisinart Evolution X for a few reasons: it is lighter, smaller, and easier to carry, with an 18-ounce capacity that works for one or two servings.

Buy if:

• You want a blender that handles ice, leafy greens, and protein powders with ease.

• You need a lightweight, portable option that fits in a backpack or cup holder.

• You like safety features, like a blade cap and easy-to-clean design.

Don't Buy if:

• You plan on blending large frozen chunks regularly. This is not its strong suit.

• You need something compact enough for a handbag, as the Ninja Blast is better suited for backpacks.

• You want a blender that handles seeds well—this model struggles with them. I find most blenders do.

Ninja Blast Pros and Cons

Pros:

• Excellent at crushing ice for smoothies and slushies.

• Works well with protein powders, creatine, and greens like spinach.

• Compact size, light weight, and portable-friendly design with a flip-top lid.

• Easy to clean with a quick soap-and-water cycle.

• Comes in a range of attractive colors: Denim Blue, Cranberry Red, Forest Green, Passionfruit Purple, White, and Black.

Cons:

• Struggles with large frozen chunks (like mango or papaya).

• Doesn't blend seeds well.

• The lid could pop open if it gets jostled around in a bag, so be cautious when packing it.

Ninja Blast portable blenderPerformance Tests

I put the Ninja Blast through a series of tests to see how well it performed with everyday blending tasks.

Test 1: Protein Shakes

My go-to blend includes frozen berries, spinach, protein powder, creatine, oat milk, and ice. This mix is tough for most blenders, but the Ninja Blast handled it impressively. While there were a few scraps of berry skin left behind, the overall result was smooth, and I was happy with the texture of the shake. The blender’s performance on protein powder was almost perfect, with only a slight hint of grittiness.

Test 2: Hummus

I don’t expect much from a portable blender when it comes to making dips, but the Ninja Blast held its own. Using garbanzo beans, garlic, olive oil, and lemon juice, I got a fairly smooth consistency. It required a bit of shaking and adjusting, and the texture was a little grainy, but overall, it was decent for such a small machine.

Test 3: Ice Crushing

Ice is a blender's ultimate test, and the Ninja Blast passed with flying colors. Whether I was making a slushie or prepping a cold drink, the ice was crushed into a near-perfect consistency. A few small pieces remained, but it was more than capable of handling frozen drinks.

Test 4: The Road Trip

For a portable blender to be truly portable, it has to survive being tossed into a bag. I put this blender in my backpack on a road trip, and it held up well. The only thing to watch out for is the flip-top lid, which could potentially pop open if it gets jostled too much. Other than that, it passed the road trip test with ease.

How Does the Ninja Blast Compare?

The closest competitor to the Ninja Blast is the BlendJet 2, another popular portable blender. While both are great, the Ninja Blast edges out due to its better ice-crushing ability and slightly larger capacity. It is, however, more expensive, so if you are looking for a budget option, the BlendJet might be worth considering.

Cleaning and Safety

Cleaning this blender is a breeze. I just add a bit of dish soap and warm water, blend for a few seconds, and it’s clean. The blade cap adds an extra layer of safety, which is something I appreciate after dealing with a few too many blender mishaps in the past. This is a thoughtful touch, especially for those of us who might leave things out on the drying rack a bit too long.

Final Thoughts: Is the Ninja Blast Worth It?

For anyone living a minimalist or on-the-go lifestyle, like me, the Ninja Blast is a solid addition to your gear. It is not perfect—larger frozen ingredients and seeds might be a challenge—but for smoothies, protein shakes, and crushed ice, it performs exceptionally well. Plus, it is compact enough to take with you everywhere, from the gym to the van.

Personally, I have made it a permanent fixture in my van, and it comes with me everywhere. My only gripe is that the lid can pop open if you throw it in a bag.  I kept the cardboard tube that it came with. Other than that, it’s a great little blender that makes blending on the go a breeze.

Frequently Asked Questions:

• Does the Ninja Blast handle frozen ingredients well?
  It does well with small frozen ingredients like berries but can struggle with larger chunks like mango or papaya.

• Is the Ninja Blast portable enough for a handbag?
  It fits easily into backpacks, but its height might make it a bit too tall for most handbags.

• How good is the Ninja Blast at crushing ice?
  Surprisingly, the Ninja Blast does a great job at crushing ice, turning it into a slushy consistency with ease.

Don’t just take our word for it check out this review from ‘tech radar’.

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