With three-section packability and added traction for steep terrain, the Whippet is perfect for ski mountaineering expeditions and splitboard excursions. The Whippet’s removable steel pick adds a margin of safety for mega-steep, no-fall terrain, while also converting into an easily stowable, adjustable pole, featuring redesigned FlickLock Pro adjustability, which is now lighter, stronger and easier to use.
Overall rating: 4.861111 / 5 from 72 reviews.
The Whippet Pole is praised for its removable steel pick, which enhances safety on icy terrain. Customers appreciate its comfortable feel and ease of use, making it ideal for backcountry travel. The design is lauded for being lighter, stronger, and more user-friendly than previous versions.
Review topics: [weight, straps, feel, poles, design, position, tool, whippet, axe, snow, pick, addition, touring, baskets, section, slippage, point, features, adjustment, fliplocks, spot, ice ax, need, mechanism, piece, upgrade].
"The 3 segments was the biggest selling point. It means I can bring this with me, store it on my pack when I don't need it. I can use it when back country skiing, winter hiking, mountaineering. It adds a margin of safety and some more options. It is certainly heavier than a hiking or ski pole, but worth it IMO."
"You can consider it as ice axe and can be used in various conditions. I used it to pull myself up hooking on anything from rocks to trees, to get some extra stability. If you just want to use the pole you can remove the pick, so you feel safer on the way down."
"Took this on a Mt Baker summit in Washington. I was scared I was going to impale myself with it on the up, but what I should have been afraid of was the slide I would do down the Deming Glacier when my ski binding broke. This thing saved my bacon, I'm glad it did what it was supposed to."
"Whippet worked on great for my British Columbia trip. Stores easily in the pack when not needed. Great for when the pack gets heavy or on steep up and downgrades."
"I’ve been using whippets for steep ski mountaineering objectives around the world for 2 decades. Every update from my old version to this version adds material value, increased functionality and improved user experience. The poles collapse to be smaller, making them easier to pack for travel or store on your pack. The flick lock lever mechanism is improved over the old plastic versions. The snow basket now has a notch so it maintains its orientation. The picks are removable so you can travel with a single set of poles (eg if your trip might also include some resort use) and these can run double duty as trekking poles. The metal ring is a great temporary lower grip position. The handles and wrist straps are more ergonomic. Don’t listen to Cody. Whippets are awesome. ;-)"
"I'm a backpacker who sometimes crosses steep snowfields. The Whippet enables me to use poles for stability and I never needed the ice ax for self arrest (but happy to have it just in case). I used the Whippet on a horrible route up the north side of Wind River Peak. It had been a glacier recently, with the ice holding the rocks, gravel, and mud together. The ice is gone and everything fell when I touched it. I buried the Whippet into the mess and pulled myself up. Not recommended but it worked."
"After slipping a couple times touring up to Camp Muir on Rainier, then borrowing my partner's whippet for the last part, I immediately went home and ordered one. It has saved me from slipping/falling so many times over the years and is easily my favourite and most dependable piece of gear that I reco to everyone. It's heavier than a typical ski pole but the added security is well worth it."
"Love this pole. Done a few steep peaks and couloirs this spring and always felt supper safe carrying my whippet! Loved it so much I got one for my son too."
"Solid and exactly what I was looking for, why not 5 stars? -because $ little to much"
"It took some getting used to as a snowboarder. I extend it when I might need it and collapse it when I don’t need it. This has been very handy to get through some difficult areas and at times provides peace of mind just having it. The basket fell off on day one. I would like for it to secure a little better. And when you are in freezing temps and get snow around the collapse points it can freeze in place. That was very rare. All around I really am glad I purchased it."
