New invention (maybe)

just make a different bottom shaft....it is easier to put on an off with gloves on. Such a small thing is nice for weight..but I can see troublesome with gloves.

or...you somehow you could create a collapsible basket.

Reminds me of this below. If you can incorporate a whippet to this design below, you will win big bucks!

A clever and elegant idea. Nicely done.

Tread carefully using the term "ice ax" to describe the modified self-arrest ski pole. Self-arrest pole shafts are strong, but they're not B/T rated. It may be wise to chat with an attorney to select language and instructions that accurately represent what the product can and cannot do.

Pole-latch damage is apt to become a concern on thin snow/rocks.

USPS has a 1/4" thickness limit on cheap mailing. You'll probably have to work a little to find a sufficiently durable envelope to ship 'em without cutting their way out of the envelope. Sending grease pencils with AvyStickers was more complicated and expensive than I expected.

Very best of luck dealing with the tax/business overhead associated with tiny production runs. It was eye-opening.

Here's the thing:
The BD whippet cam-lock closers are aluminum, not plastic, although they've done a pretty good job of making them look plastic.
I put one on the grinding wheel just to check.
Sure, you might screw one up, but it won't happen with one hit

It's for
Fast & light: where your stuff may not last forever, but it will get you to the top.
Where you can't take everything, cos you'd have too much & you'd never stand a chance.

This whippet-thingy was made just to deal with the top 200' of nasty snow. So it you're booting up & your pole-handle isn't quite penetrating, the thingy is on your handle, small enough to have lived there forever.
One day you may need it, then you pull the bottom pole sections, stuff them down your back between your pack straps, basket upwards, fiddle the thingy in place & blammo, you're happy , cos you thought you were goping to fall off, & Now you have a 3% better chance of staying on. Hmm, I just made that figure up??$%#^*!. Thanks Charlie H for advising caution.

That's it.
I'll make a few & keep then in all sizes &. I'm not going to turn into a sales manic & thanks fellas & ladies for being supportive

I still think you should increase the diameter of the head of your spike.  If you're plunging it you'll hang up on the flick lock and maybe again on the soft grip that's half way up the shaft.  If you're concerned about the sharp edge on the top of the spike catching and pulling the spike out as you pull the whippet out of a plunged hole then just add a chamfer there.  If you're not plunging then the stock whippet tip is fine for my needs. 

If your concern is weight then drill out the middle, if your concern is having to finding larger round stock to start with I got nothing for you.

Cool idea, you should develop it further.