Van Life Gear

Ninja Blast Portable Blender Review: Perfect for Van Life

May 26, 2025

Should You Buy the Ninja Blast?Buy if:Don't Buy if:You plan on blending large frozen chunks regularly. This is not its strong suit.Ninja Blast Pros and ConsPros:Cons:Ninja Blast portable blenderPerformance TestsI put the Ninja Blast through a series of tests to see how well it performed with everyday blending tasks.Test 1: Protein ShakesTest 2: HummusI 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 CrushingTest 4: The Road TripHow Does the Ninja Blast Compare?Cleaning and SafetyFinal Thoughts: Is the Ninja Blast Worth It?Frequently Asked Questions:

Buy if:Don't Buy if:You plan on blending large frozen chunks regularly. This is not its strong suit.

Pros:Cons:

Test 1: Protein ShakesTest 2: HummusI 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 CrushingTest 4: The Road TripHow Does the Ninja Blast Compare?Cleaning and SafetyFinal Thoughts: Is the Ninja Blast Worth It?Frequently Asked Questions:

Disclosure:Some of the links in this article may be affiliate links, which can provide compensation to me at no cost to you if you decide to purchase. This site is not intended to provide financial advice and is for entertainment only.

In thisNinja Blast portable blenderreview, 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?

TheNinja Blasthas taken over the top spot in my personal portable blender rankings, surpassing theCuisinart Evolution Xfor 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 handlesice, leafy greens, and protein powderswith 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.Amazon US

You want a blender that handlesice, leafy greens, and protein powderswith 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.

Amazon US

Amazon CDN

Ninja Direct

Don't Buy if:

You plan on blendinglarge frozen chunksregularly. 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.

You plan on blendinglarge frozen chunksregularly. 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 withprotein powders, creatine, and greens like spinach.Compact size, light weight, and portable-friendly design with aflip-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.

Excellent at crushing ice for smoothies and slushies.

Works well withprotein powders, creatine, and greens like spinach.

Compact size, light weight, and portable-friendly design with aflip-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 withlarge frozen chunks(like mango or papaya).Doesn't blendseedswell.The lid couldpop openif it gets jostled around in a bag, so be cautious when packing it.

Struggles withlarge frozen chunks(like mango or papaya).

Doesn't blendseedswell.

The lid couldpop openif it gets jostled around in a bag, so be cautious when packing it.

Ninja Blast portable blenderPerformance Tests

photo of ninja blast portable blender in a cupholder

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 includesfrozen 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. Usinggarbanzo 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 handlingfrozen 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 theroad trip testwith ease.

How Does the Ninja Blast Compare?

photo of a person holding a ninja blast portable blender walking on the beach

The closest competitor to the Ninja Blast is theBlendJet 2, another popular portable blender. While both are great, the Ninja Blast edges out due to itsbetter ice-crushing abilityand 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

photo of ninja blast portable blender with easy to clean written on it

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. Theblade capadds 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?

photo of a ninja blast portable blender full of fruit

For anyone living a minimalist or on-the-go lifestyle, like me, theNinja Blastis a solid addition to your gear. It is not perfect—larger frozen ingredients and seeds might be a challenge—but forsmoothies, 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.

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 outthis review from ‘tech radar’.

Check out some of our other popular blog posts:

Bluetti AC70 Review

Anker Solix f1200 review

Best Portable Solar Generator

How to Winterize your RV

Portable Fan for Camping

Best Mosquito Deterrent Device

Buy if:Don't Buy if:You plan on blending large frozen chunks regularly. This is not its strong suit.

Pros:Cons:

Free camping tips, gear reviews and real van life advice in your inbox

Written by a solo woman who has been living full-time on the road since 2009. No spam, just the real stuff.