Photo: Spencer Higgins

Order a frozen margarita at an upscale resort in Cabo and the bartender will add tequila, lime juice, and triple sec to a fluffy mound of ice from his industrial blender—no errant ice chunks to clog your straw. Most affordable home blenders can’t match that consistency. But fill the Oster’s hopper with ice and in five minutes you’ll have enough Alpine-quality snow for a pitcher of top-shelf margs.

Wired Also good for snow cones. Sturdy pitcher feels party-proof.
Tired Sounds like a World War II bomber. Snow cones aren’t quite carnival-grade. Can’t do smoothies; frozen fruit gunks it up.