Hand/ stick blender recommendations please?

[GnarlyOldGoatDude]

Just that really! For soups and smoothies mainly. I've got an ancient smoothie maker that I use at the moment, but it's leaking and smelly and a right faff for blending hot soup. Could anyone recommend one that is good but doesn't cost the earth? Thanks in advance!

I bought a Sainsburys Basics one about 10 years ago and it's still going strong.

Lovely, thanks. Seen one on Amazon from company called Andrew James that is rated highly, never heard of them though

Bamix are really good, even though expensive. I've had one for years, at it's lasted a lot longer than a cheaper one that stopped working.

Braun. They've just come back on the markey in the UK after being gone for a few years. I love the balance. They aren't too heavy or chunky.

I like a stainless steel blendy end, as I cook lots of stuff with tomatoes and spices and hate it when the white bit gets discoloured. So decide if that matters to you .

Then, do you want it to do anything else, or are you happy wih 'just' the blendy end. I got one that's quite all singing and all dancing, but really I just use the blendy end, and the mini processor bit. And I never use it to crush ice, mash potatoes (glue!), so I could have gone with a lower spec really.

Thank you- I've literally 5 minutes ago ordered a basic Braun one