Grivel Condor Self Arrest Grips - Any Experiences?

Does anyone have experience using the Grivel Condor Self Arrest Grip? If so, what are your thoughts. Here's a link to what they look like and how they're supposed to function:

www.expo.planetmountain.com/Pages/Compan...id_comp=22&keyID=237

My wife's got one and really likes it. A comfortable grip in normal and cane positions (more so than the Whippet) and the pick feels nice and solid. We modified the "hood" over the adjustment knob to make it a little easier to secure the pick, as well as tweaking the split ring that goes under the knob so it sits in the handle better. All in all, a couple minor tweaks for a nice product.

The only other downside is if you have large hands -- her hands are the same size as mine (average) and the fit with gloves on in the grip is a teeny bit snug. Might be downright awkward if you've got big meathooks.

Then again, if you've got meathooks, just use those to self-arrest

I've had one for a year or so.  I really like being able to tuck away the sharp end when you don't need it.   I have medium sized hands and the grip seems plenty big.   

Note that I did break a bone in the base of my thumb last year when I took a fall and slammed my hand (holding the pole) into hard icy snow.  This might have been a freak accident but anytime you have a loop handle that goes in front of your knuckles you run the risk of having one of these types of breaks.  I think that's why they stopped making those strapless downhill ski poles that had the plastic loops that went in front of your knuckles.  Just something to keep in mind.

I have used mine a bit. The only downside is that it after using it to climb when it’s open, it will fill with ice and then it can not be closed.

I got one last spring -- I've never used it in "anger" but I've found it very easy to deploy and retract. (I deploy it only when skinning up steep terrain, and then retract it for skiing.)
As Marcus mentions, I substituted in some small split rings so that the strap can be attached at the top of the grip (i.e., as with a normal ski pole).
I've never had any problem with snow & ice clogging up the slot, so I would never use a self-arrest grip as a subtitute for an ice axe when climbing.

They seemed potentially to be the cat's meow with the retractable pick, when I first saw the advertisements. However when they arrived in at Marmot, for my hands on, pre-buyers inspection, I found them to be too small for my large hands - giving me such a snug fit I'd have no ability to flick or move my pole without exaggerated wrist motions, let alone dumping them if I had too. The lock out methodology for the pick seemed a little figity as well, but I never took the next step - so have no on snow experience (and no one else as mentioned that as a problem. I've been using a first generation 'self-arrest' grip (strictly hard plastic pick with no metal) for some years, and have only used it for steep ascents, and have never had to self-arrest with it. Plus its been a very comfortable, flexible grip for holding, pushing off of, etc. Gerry H.