Whippet vs. Claw - a debate

In discussing possible trips for this coming summer, I returned to the idea of supplementing my safety gear with self-arrest grips. Or at least a self-arrest grip, as it were.<br><br>It seems my two primary options are the Black Diamond Whippet and the Life-Link Claw. <br><br>With its metal pick and adjustability, I think it safe to say the Whippet is the superior of the two; however, using the Whippet will require me to also throw down for a pair of BD poles. On the other hand, I have been skiing with the same pair of Life-Link Variant poles for the past 8 years to much success, so find the idea of the affordable-but-plastic Claw appealing.<br><br>That said, what are some opinions on the matter? Has anyone used one or both that could provide insight? Are the savings for the Claw outweighed by the benefits of the Whippet?<br>

Well, I've been using a pair of Whippets since 1997. First of all, let me resolve the biggest misconception regarding Whippets: you DON'T have to "throw down for a pair of BD poles" in order to use them! All you need to buy are the BD Traverse spare lower shafts ($20 each) and the BD claw baskets ($3.50/pair) . You can also use the BD Adjustable Probe lower shafts ($28.95 each, M/F) as I do, which join to make a marginally useful 6 ft probe (I've also made an adapter so my snow saw can attach to the end of the M shaft for cutting deep blocks). But I'm fairly certain that the BD Expedition Pole lower shafts (too thin and short) do not work with the Whippets.<br><br>The advantages of Whippets are overwhelming: 1) the steel pick makes a fine ice axe for most snow climbing encountered in ski mountaineering, therefore I now carry my ultralight Grivel ATR axe mainly for decoration / training weight; 2) the Whippet picks are far superior to the plastic Claw for self-arrest on hard frozen snow such as that encountered early in the morning on late spring and summer ski trips; 3) the picks are removable in less than 1 minute per pair, so to reduce the self-impalement hazard, I prefer to always keep them in my pack unless I'm skiing or climbing steep terrain where I might need them.<br><br>I suppose it's obvious that I consider the BD Whippets to be one of the most innovative and useful backcountry ski products ever created. Major thanks to designer Andrew McLean. They are expensive ($78 each), but really worth it. But perhaps you could get lucky like I did in 1997 and find a PAIR on sale for $42, at an unnamed local outdoor store which went out of business soon thereafter (they were mistakenly selling pairs of them together instead of single ones, and it was on sale for 30% off the $60 list price). A real steal of a deal.<br><br>Amar Andalkar<br> www.skimountaineer.com <br>

I have heard it rumored that for the '04-'05 season, BD will be selling the ENTIRE pole with Whippet handle for around $80 (each) - when exactly this pricing change will take effect and whether it will be in time for your trip is another question. <br><br>(Note: Jeff Maudlin at BD later confirmed this, the retail price for ONE complete pole with Whippet handle will be $79.95 for next year, this will apply to orders to be shipped in late summer/early fall of '04 - roughly a savings of $21 over parting out the Whippet/lower shaft/basket at present)

Both the whippet and claw are useful. The claw is better in soft snow because it has a thicker pick and the whippet is better in hard snow because it has a thinner pick. I've been using claws since Paul Ramer released them in the early 1980s and I bought a pair of whippets a few years ago. I sometimes carry one of each, since I own both and since snow conditions can be unpredictable.<br><br>I disagree with Amar that the whippet is overwhelmingly superior. In soft snow conditions, which is what you hope for if you're skiing a slope that may require a self arrest, the claw is a better choice. A whippet may just slice through the snow in those conditions. On the other hand, a whippet is nicer on those crusty mornings when you're climbing up a slope with crampons and ice axe and you'd like a second tool. <br><br>Amar suggests leaving your ice axe on your pack and climbing frozen snow with whippets. I suggest using your ice axe when the snow is frozen and carrying claws for the descent, when the snow is soft. That seems to me the best use of tools to span a range of conditions.<br><br>A whippet may be a better choice if your focus is steep skiing and you expect to push snow conditions toward the hard, sketchy side. On the other hand, if you're looking for an arrest grip for general use and you typically take your skis off when the snow is really hard, I would recommend the claw.<br><br>Paul Ramer was the real innovator in creating the first self arrest grip. Andrew McLean is to be commended for developing a version that is superior in hard snow conditions.

...I think it safe to say the Whippet is the superior of the two;

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... The advantages of Whippets are overwhelming:

<br><br>To each his own.  Like Lowell, I can't say I agree with the above statements.  I have also been using the Ramer Claws since Ramer's "push button" days.  <br><br>The skinny whippet scares me; I can just see it sticking through my body after being impaled on it in one of my "mixmaster" falls.  I do agree that it is probably the better tool for hard snow... but that's only assuming you can prevent it from twisting to the side. To do that effectively (at least for me) you would likely have to switch to a two handed grip (like an ice axe) with one hand across the head (or in this case the whippet).  If you have to (drop one pole and) switch your grip, you lose the advantage of catching yourself quickly before allowing speed to build up.  I'll switch to my light ice axe if I find myself REALLY wanting to continue to climb in those conditions.  Bear in mind, (to borrow a phrase from Robie) I'm a SKIER with an Ice Axe -- not a hard core mountain climber that skis.  So I tend to turn around when the skiing conditions start to deterioriate.<br><br>The claw, on the other hand, has the flat knuckle guard area that tends to help keep the spike pointed at the snow (while holding the pole one handed with the skiers grip) while also protecting the knuckles.  Thus I believe it's easier to use the claws for quick, hip level, double clawed catches (or self arrests).<br>I also find that climbing with two claws is handy in other ways, from giving you additional choices of hand placement to being quite useful while scrambling up steep pitches of both snow and dirt.<br><br>Bottom line: I agree with Lowell.  <br>Nonetheless, who knows, if I were as gnarly a climber as Amar I may also be a whippet junkie instead of a claw proponent.

Thanks for the feedback. Lowell and Ron, I have to admit you caught me a bit narrow in my thinking; I was considering the Whippet vs. Claw in a hard snow scenario (only, it would seem). Oftentimes I resist switching to my axe for whatever reason, even though I likely should for safety's sake - thus the thought that I should have some type of contingency plan for such situations.<br><br>The issue is a bit deeper than I had initially considered, however. This gives much food for thought - much appreciated.