Whippet vs. Claw - a debate

I agree with sky. The whippet for me is the better tool for climbing steeper/firmer snow (most prevelent in spring) and during the ski down the whippet has very little value for me. If I am uncomfortable enough to want to use the whippet during a fall then I shouldn't be skiing it. The whippet combined with crampons is a very nice combination for fast movement over steeper terrain. I am more dependant on my skis arresting my fall than either the claw or whippet. I've never had any close calls with puncturing myself, but I have broken the poles top and bottoms several times while falling over logs, avi debris, and other obstacles (yep, real hard ones to mis )

Do any snowboarders or splitboarders here use whippets or claws?

Split headers

I've never had a close call with stabbing myself, but I don't know if I rip it up like Sam. Furthermore, it's better than running with scissors!

<br> ...oh, please!<br><br>Also have to agree with the fact that I've never had to use the whippet to arrest a skiing fall.  I see it primarily as a value while climbing steeps.  Of course if I ever was careening down a slope and left with a choice of a). continue falling and die, or b). use my whippet and maybe slow myself down...<br>I'll choose "b" over 50% of the time .<br><br>whippet! whippet good.

On thing not mentioned yet is the value of self-arrest grips for steep skinning. Many times I've skinned up a slope steep enough to touch the snow with my uphill hand while bending over only slightly. Placing the arrest pick with the uphill hand adds a lot of security in this situation. This is probably the most frequent use I've made of self-arrest grips. I've never used them to stop a serious fall. In the softish snow conditions where I typically do steep skinning, the claw definitely holds better than the whippet.<br><br>But, like I said before, both the whippet and claw are useful. This discussion has demonstrated how we often assume that gear we haven't used is inferior to the stuff we know. <br>

I like that bit about assuming other gear is inferior. It's a defense mechanism, I have to believe I have the good stuff so I can save my cash for things like food.