Recommend me a blender please!

I've decided to get a blender or a juicer. Is there a difference?
 
Well anyway, I want something to not only make fresh fruit juice from say oranges, but I also want to be able to make smoothies and other drinks using both fruit and vegetables, maybe add a scoop of protein here and there.
 
So, what do I need please.....Any recommendation

Not really a recommendation but cheap as chips juicer from Argos at only £5.99

They also do a smoothie maker for £20 it has a pouring tap

Can't be bad combo for £26 or so

I've an Argos range blender. Big size and does the job. Can't remember price but was no more than £20.
 
I'd recommend to steer clear of ones with taps though. Heard bad things about them with juice/smoothie etc sticking to sides of the tap inside and decaying so not something you want in your drink. But I've no experience with them, just reviews I've read, so may not be as bad as people make out, some may even be removable to clean thoroughly.

Kenwood smoothie maker, had one (same one, still in perfect nick) for about 7 or 8 years. I dont think you can go wrong, I believe the smoothie makers have a tap and an extra spin setting.

PB if I had to re-up on a blender... there is ONE it would be... the vita-mix line of blenders. Mine is going on right around ten years now and is used approx seven times a week... sometimes a few more and rarely less. it stays on the counter... if that gives you an idea.
 
my shakes most always contain nuts and I have blended ice almost as much.  they are high powered blenders that can near liquify almonds in a shake. I thought my motor was gonna give a few years back when I was really punishing it... turned out it just needed to cool and everything has been fine since.
 
it also is super easy to clean... I've never taken mine apart in all my years and that means the blades have gone unsharpened in that time as well. with no problems, it is a very durable machine.
 
I don't not feel as though I'd be doing any disservice to rec that machine to you, and after all the years you've been around here, helping all of us out... the last thing I'd want to do is steer you in a wrong direction.
 
it's a spendy little contraption coming in somewhere in the $250 range. I probably wouldn't have one myself, but it was gifted me back when I really started getting into juicing and mixing my own protein shakes. However, after having had one... when it does go out on me, I'm dropping the money to buy a new one.
 
good luck in the search
 
-Grendel-

http://www.argos.co.uk/we...KENWOOD+SMOOTHIE+TO+GO
 
Just bought one of these a couple of days ago. It's really good, chops up ice pretty easy and has 2 removable jugs. All really easy to clean too. I'd say the only downside is that it doesn't fit a massive amount it in it.

Just bought a decent blender, £12.99 from lidl, glass jug, ice crushing notch

'best' = vita mix or blendtec - it will obliterate everything so you get max nutiritional value, you can even make soup from scratch and ice cream too. awesome machine but = £399!!!!!!!!!! mine was a gift :)  do a youtube search of blendtec and broom or ipad - yep someone actually turned an ipad to dust in it - idiot.
 
but a juicer is different this will juice (extract the solid and give you just juice) of say fruits like apples, oranges, pears - hard fruits. melon, mango etc is not going to work, carrots are good for it and celery, so you'll get like tropicana smooth, or apple juice. these you can pick up for £15-30 in argos. dont bother with the expensive ones.
 
tbh of the typical range of blenders all have the same power motors = same results just marketed up with different designs etc etc so go for something cheap and see how you get on.
 
it sounds like you want a blender is more versatile but if you dont like the smoothies, pulp and bits in your juices and thats all you want it for go for a juicer ...

Thanks for all the suggestions. It's certainly given me a good starting point for research. It does sound like a "gift" would be nice though as some of you have found lol.

PB, get a "ninja" best purchase I've ever made in my life. Can pick them up failry cheap on ebay (circa 30 quid iirc) comes with 3 different size jugs, blades that turn ice into "snow", I literally use it everyday

Another vote for the Vitamix. 
 
Ours is used several times a day and hasn't missed a beat in the 5 years we have had it.
 
Last blender you will buy, pricey but as with many things you get what you pay for.
 
Turns a pile of veg into hot soup in about 2 minutes.
 
With both wet and dry jugs you can do anything, including making flour, nut-butters etc.
 

I have had this one for ages and it has not let me down (yet)
Moulinex Table Blender AAW9417

I've got the blendtec with the bigger jug.  It has a much bigger bottom than the vitamix so easier to clean around the blade, also bpa free.  I had the vitamix before and took it back because I couldn't get used to the plunger thing.  I've tried making smoothies and they're nowhere near as sweet as shop bought.  It blends leafy veg very easily, spinach juice with banana and ice is quite nice.  Makes almond butter very easily.

I have this blender: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Kenwood-BLX54-Blender-Peppercorn-Black/dp/B0014IK6PG/ref=sr_1_23?ie=UTF8&qid=1326398416&sr=8-23
 
Pretty much the ****, i love it. Although, its my first blender and have nothing to compare to too. Easy to clean. Does the job.

Are vitamix and blendtecs really really noisy?

i got a kenwood food proceer it comes with a blender and all that other crap its £109 in argous or look at a smothie maker roughly 35quid

I have a couple of blendtec blenders and they are beasts!
I also have a juicer, an auger type.
 
The blender will blend pretty much anything.  I used them for cocktails where alot of ice was used and they are great for that and give v smooth results.
The juicer is good for most fruit and veg or wheatgrass if you're into that.  I use a hand citrus juicer for Citrus.
 
Any commercial or semi commercial blender will be best but they ain't exactly cheap.. ebay ofen have blendtec blenders at around £200 which is where I got mine.

i use a jug and one of those 6 pound hand blenders from asda.... always worked fine for me.

There's a decent one in makro for 14.99 atm