CMI California Swivel

The CMI California Swivel is a compact swivel from CMI Gear that keeps rope, lanyards and loads from twisting. Placed between connectors, it lets the system rotate freely so your line hangs clean.

Why a swivel helps

Rope twists. Every time you spin while descending, or a load rotates on the way down, twist builds into the line. A swivel lets one side of the system turn without the other, so your climb line stays cleaner and your friction system works the way it should.

Climbers often put a swivel between a friction device and the saddle bridge. In light rigging, a swivel between a block and a load stops a spinning piece from winding the rope.

Swivels also help when you are working with long lanyards or a rope that has picked up twist from a previous job. A swivel in the right place lets that twist run out instead of kinking at your device.

Check compatibility with your device and connectors before buying. A swivel that is too long can change how your system sits on the bridge.

Use and inspection

Use rated locking connectors at each end, follow CMI's rating and instructions, and check that the swivel turns smoothly under light load. Retire it if rotation is rough or the body is damaged. See more in our swivels section.

Anything you hang your life on must meet the applicable standard, be used per the manufacturer's instructions and ANSI Z133, and be inspected before every climb by a trained user.

Keep the swivel clean, since grit in the bearing makes rotation rough and can hide wear. Rinse it with clean water if it gets dirty and let it dry fully before storage.