CMI

Closed for Use

Open for Rigging

Technical details:

I acquired my CMI Foot ascender from On Rope 1 in 2007. This is a left foot ascender, CMI also makes a right-foot version.

The CMI foot ascender consists of an extruded, anodized aluminum shell, a cam assembly, and a set of straps and buckles. The CMI Foot ascender shell is 56 mm tall, 80 mm wide, and 32 mm thick. The rope channel is 17.5 mm. wide, and is 57 mm. from the cam pivot. The cam is spring-loaded and has a (4.3)^5(4) tooth pattern. The cam radius increases from 43 to 62 mm. over a 46° arc, giving an effective cam angle of 24°. A spring-loaded safety on the base of the cam blocks cam opening unless swung out of the way. When the cam is open, the safety may be released to catch the shell, holding the cam open. Slots in the shell accept webbing straps. An ankle strap slides freely, and an under-foot strap is sewn in place. Both straps have adjustment buckles.

The only markings are "Cmi" and "TESTED" stickers on the frame.

The CMI Foot ascender weighs 324 g.

Comments:

The CMI resembles the Petzl Pantin B02, and comparisons are natural, but considering the hate mail that I receive for dissing the Pantin, I'm almost reluctant to do so. Here are a few observations:

The CMI comes in left- and right-footed versions, the Pantin does not.

The CMI is 50% larger and four times the weight of the Pantin.

The CMI did not self-destruct when I first loaded it. The Pantin straps did.

The CMI cam safety keeps the cam from opening accidentally. The Pantin cam has no such feature and the Pantin easily comes off rope when the user does not want it to.