WC Helium Wire/DMM shield + Ice climbing = ???

[John Frieh]

Have you or anyone you know had any issues with either the WC Helium wire biner and/or the DMM shield biner getting ice/debris in the nose and been unable to get the biner to close?

 

Have you been ice climbing on either model for a season or two and havent had any issues beyond water dripping on the biner and freezing? TIA

[scheissami]

Sadly, I'm lame and haven't climbed too much water ice. Have done a bit in the Gorge and some alpine ice (mostly snow/glacial stuff) with the shield biners. So, not a lot of milage but I haven't had any problems. FYI, the nose of the shield biner is pretty large, and I've had problems trying to clip them to old bolts--not sure if that will be an issue with screws, especially some of the older models.

[catbirdseat]

I've used the Heliums on a couple of trips without problems but I wouldn't say I had enough mileage on them in ice to say categorically they are resistant to icing up.

[G-spotter]

I've got Shields on some screamers and had no problems with freezing over last winter.