Online - August 18, 2005

Smoothie Operator

Travel Blender

As the season of the frothy cold beverage comes to a close, a small voice inside your head begins to express panic.

Standard-issue iced coffee in the morning won’t do; you need it frapped. For lunch you could eat a banana, but why not slurp it down in shake form? And nothing says happy hour quite like the daiquiri of your dreams.

To insure that you never have to go without a whipped-up libation, take along the Vortex travel blender. Made of Lexan resin and stainless steel, it is compact, light, and perfectly portable, since it’s powered by you — via ergonomic hand crank. The lower speed is good for mixing sauces and batters, but it’s the high ice-crusher setting that enables you to make all the shakes, granitas, and smoothie-like potables you want.

Designed with camping and tailgating in mind, the appliance comes with a C-clamp to secure it to steady surfaces — like a picnic bench, card table, or even your desk. Before you know it, every month will be frozen drink season.

And every place will be Margaritaville.

Available online at shop.com.