What's in the box & dimensions

The Vitamix 5300 is a hybrid of the C and G Series machines. When opening the box you'll fine a Classic-style 5300 motor base, and a Next-Generation-style 64-ounce low profile container and tamper. Also included is a DVD, getting started guide, and a cookbook that actually has a lot of great recipes. With the container attached, the unit is 17.3 inches tall by 8.8 inches wide and 7.25 inches from front to back. The Vitamix 5300 is covered by a 7 year warranty, including free shipping both ways if you need to use your warranty. All the components for all Vitamix blenders are made and assembled in the USA.

This is the only C-Series blender that features a low-profile container, so keep that in mind if you're looking for low-profile capable blender on a C-Series budget. (Disclaimer: The 5300 is much louder than any G-Series blender.)

Lid

Quick and easy sealing that also lets you add ingredients while you mix.

The lid on the 64oz container features rubber seals that grip to the jar. In the center there is a molded piece of clear plastic that lets you add ingredients while the machine is running. This is also where the tamper is inserted to free thick/frozen ingredients without needing to remove the container from the base and push them around with a spatula.

Jar

Low-Profile jar can handle the largest blends and put your ingredients for the most consistent blend.

This low-profile 64oz jar is designed to breakdown large ingredients quickly while having the versatility to also push the contents back towards the blades in 4 different areas for a consistent blend. Pushing the contents towards the blades ensures that there will be no chunks of food stuck to the sides of the container. The jar is BPA-free copolyester that can fit on any G-Series machine, as well as the Vitamix 5300.

Blades

The Blades are soft to the touch, never wearing down- offering consistent blends for years.

The hardened stainless steel blades aren’t razor-sharp to the touch- but they’re designed to squeeze maximum efficiency out of every turn. Each of the four blades are engineered to provide the perfect blend and compliment the containers design to keep your ingredients moving around properly within the container. Since the blades don’t revolve around sharpness, they’re not only simple to clean, but provide consistent blends for years.

Power

The 2.2 horsepower is powerful enough to blend just about anything, but it's also very loud for a C-Series blender.

The Vitamix 5300 features a more updated motor capable of producing .2 horsepower more than the other C-Series blenders. The cost of producing more power in the same style of enclosure, is noise. This is the loudest C-Series blender. This machine has the ability to blend pretty much anything you put in it- featuring a 2.2 horsepower motor driving the stainless steel blades. The assembly attaching the blades to the motor base is a metal-to-metal connection which functions better than other plastic connections found in similar to lower end blenders.

Interface

The Vitamix 5300's interface is simple enough for anyone to use

The interface on the 5300 is very simple, it features pulse, variable speed knob from 1-10 and a start/stop toggle switch. The pulse is great for blending chunky recipes like thick salsa or dealing with a stubborn frozen ingredient that wont blend right away. The variable speed knob is a nice tactile way to control your blending speed quickly and easily. Flipping the "Start" toggle is dead simple and oddly satisfying. 

The 5300 also features an on/off switch on the front of the machine beneath the Vitamix logo. This is a great feature if your Vitamix lives on your counter so it doesn't start running if accidentally bumped into. I like to turn the machine on only when I'm going to press start and begin blending, as soon as I'm done blending, I press the stop button then off before the container even leaves the base. 

It is worth noting, the 5300 lacks presets, which you have to ask yourself if they are something you'd like to have. If you would, I'd recommend looking at the C-Series Vitamix 6300 or the G-Series Vitamix Professional Series 750.

Clean Up

Cleaning your Vitamix gently with a sponge will keep it looking great for years.

While Vitamix and some demonstrators say you can clean your Vitamix using the "water and small amount of soap" mixture- I don't advise using this method. I recommend investing in a dish sponge and use the dish soap to scrub out all of the contents of the container on your own. These blenders are very powerful and not cleansing your container free of all the minerals that attach themselves to the walls of the container could increase your chances of ou container becoming cloudy or discolored. Cleaning thoroughly after each use is the best practice get the most out of your container.

Storage

The low-profile container is one of the major benefits for this machine over any other C-Series blender.

Size matters in the kitchen! This is only C-Series that has a lo-profile container and has the ability to sit under low-hanging cabinets. If you'll be operating this machine in a kitchen with lower hanging cabinets or storage shelves, I'd recommend this machine. This blender can fit under cabinets as low as 17.5 inches!

The Vitamix 5300 is a subtle mix of C & G Series Vitamix blenders, but with a C-Series price tag.

The Vitamix 5300 is a 'blend' of the C-Series and G-Series blenders. It's a step up from the 5200, but this machine is the only blender in the C-Series line to use a 64-ounce low profile container. Vitamix states the 5300 has an updated motor system capable of 2.2 Horsepower, but the motor base doesn't feature the noise dampening design of the G-Series blenders so it is noisier than the other C-Series machines. It comes with Vitamix's 7 year warranty, so if anything happens the friendly people at Vitamix will help you out the best they can! If you have to use the warranty, Vitamix pays for shipping both ways- another nice perk to make the customer experience a little better.

I'd recommend this blender to anyone who wants a deal on a low-profile 2.2 horsepower Vitamix, as long as noise isn't a factor for you, this is a great machine!