to swivel or not to swivel? ease of use or unnecessary hazard?

[Aotus]

After reading common concerns about swivel use for regulators, but different philosophies on solutions (here), I thought I'd seek out more opinions on the matter.

Please select from the poll above your preferred configuration. Also, users may want to explain their choice, whether its "swivel because it's always worked" or "elbow because its the best of both worlds." If so, please explain your logic and/or experience that led you to the decision.

Thanks very much!

[FW]

Get the right regulators, and you won't need any swivels.

[Aotus]

Get the right regulators, and you won't need any swivels.

what regs do you use? does the hose bow around your neck widely? I'm struggling to imagine how that looks. I honestly didn't expect anyone to choose the "short hose: straight" option.

[FW]

what regs do you use? does the hose bow around your neck widely? I'm struggling to imagine how that looks. I honestly didn't expect anyone to choose the "short hose: straight" option.

I use Poseidons, with very flexible, hoses.

[Greenwood_60]

Get the right regulators, and you won't need any swivels.

Get the right elbows, and you won't need special regulators.

[Kelly Jessop]

Poll is overly complicated, because I really don't know what side long hose is and short hose is. If this is sidemount configuration then I assume it would be analgous to left post and right post like Hogarthian.

My vote would be never, ever use a swivel in a cave,but as Forrest said use an ambidextrous regulator, or an elbow.

[Aotus]

Poll is overly complicated, because I really don't know what side long hose is and short hose is. If this is sidemount configuration then I assume it would be analgous to left post and right post like Hogarthian.

Like Forrest said,can use the correct regulator, or elbow, or swivel-easier choices

oops. well, i meant short-left, long-right.

[FW]

oops. well, i meant short-left, long-right.

That is part of your problem. If you use normal 2nd stages, they will work without swivels, if the long hose is on the left tank.

[nakatomi]

My vote would be never, ever use a swivel in a cave,but as Forrest said use an ambidextrous regulator, or an elbow.

An elbow is fine, all it adds in failure points is one single O-ring.

Swivels on the other hand, can be extremely vulnerable to failure. One brand, the Omniswivel, has (if I remember correctly) seven O-rings and comes with a service manual.

[PfcAJ]

Route your hoses right and you won't need a swivel or an elbow