For the last several years a local mountaineering group has experimented with the SMC Fluke vs the DMM Deadman in a variety of snow conditions at the Mount Baker Ski area while teaching snow anchors to budding alpinists. The results of the SMC fluke are not impressive. Most of the time the flukes would fail. We consider they are aptly named and that it is a fluke if they hold. Conversely, the DMM deadman performs quite well. Most of the time a deadman will set solid. I would trust a DMM deadman for an anchor. I would not trust a fluke.