| Black Diamond Whippet Self-Arrest Conversion for FlickLock Poles |
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Average Rating: 3 out of 5
No. of Reviews: 1
RRP: £78
Year: 2003 Description:
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 | | Posted: 08/01/04 |
| 'ski tourers only !' | | Strengths:
Saves carrying an axe for ski ascents, and provides more braking options in the event of a fall on the descent. The pick is easily removable for use as a normal pole. | | Weaknesses:
Expensive! And you're only getting half a pole here - you need to buy the lower half separately if you don't already own them. The slim profile means you don't get a great deal of purchase in soft snows. Not as easy to use for self-arrest as an ice axe: the length of the pole makes them less manoeuverable than an axe, therefore slower and harder to use (and easier to injure yourself with). | | Overall:
How you rate these depends on what you're comparing them with. They function nearly as well as an axe for ascending snow slopes, and provide a feeling of security which poles alone can't. If you slip during descent, you can attempt an ice axe-style arrest, rather than an uncertain and potentially pole-trashing pole tip arrest. Compared to plain poles, you have an additional degree of safety, with the only downside being the self-injury potential if used incorrectly. Compared to an axe, they are less versatile and less easy to use - but this is outweighed from a skiing perspective by the fact that you can't use an axe on the descent. If you're not on skis, then their advantage over an axe is clearly reduced, though their additional length makes them a better support for walking.
Black Diamond market Whippets to both skiers and walkers. Most skiing deaths and serious injuries are caused by falls, and not always by the initial impact, but by the subsequent slide and collision. So while I think they're a worthwhile buy for skiing, I personally wouldn't get them for walking only.
If you do decide to get these, it is *essential* to practice self-arrest technique with them before using them seriously. They are not as easy to manoeuvre or as quick to bite as an axe, so you can't rely on axe training alone. And because there are two of them, it's easy to stab yourself with the second whilst manoeuvering the first if you haven't planned and practised your response. |
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| | | Performance | | 60% | | Reliability | | 60% | | Value | | 60% |
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