Photos: Gardner Tackle · supplied retailer imagery
Terminal tackle · Rig swivels · Our take
Gardner Tackle Covert Mini Rig Swivels
Size 12 · 20 per packet
A cracking little size 12 swivel for lighter carp and coarse rigs, with a smooth spin, strong build and a finish that won’t flash in the margins.
- Size 12 mini rig swivel with an anti-glare black finish.
- Twenty swivels come in a packet.
- Smooth-spinning design with round eyes for strong, tidy knots.
- Works with Covert Easi Clips, Speed Links and Q-Rings for quick hooklink changes.
Make sure it’s the right one. This review covers the Gardner Tackle Covert Mini Rig Swivels, product code SWV12, in the size 12, anti-glare black version.
Tackle Index Score
Tackle Index score
A versatile, sensibly priced mini swivel that earns its place in a carp or coarse tackle box.
- Product Quality9/10
- Performance8.8/10
- Impact on Fish Catching8.6/10
- Ease of Use8.4/10
- Value for Money9.5/10
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Who it suits
Is it right for you?
Great for
- Carp anglers fishing lighter, finesse-style rigs. The compact black body keeps the rig neat and less conspicuous, especially when you’re fishing cautious carp in clear water or the margins.
- Coarse anglers and anyone changing hooklinks regularly. They pair with quick-change components, so swapping rigs between bites, feeders or hook patterns involves less faff.
Maybe skip if
- Anglers building very heavy-duty big-fish rigs. A larger, more substantial swivel may feel more appropriate when the rig is built around powerful tackle and serious weed.
- Anyone who dislikes small terminal components. Size 12 swivels can be a bit fiddly to thread, knot and handle on a windy bank or with chilly hands.
The lowdown
Introducing the Gardner Tackle Covert Mini Rig Swivels
A cracking little size 12 swivel for lighter carp and coarse rigs, with a smooth spin, strong build and a finish that won’t flash in the margins.
- Size 12 mini rig swivel with an anti-glare black finish.
- Twenty swivels come in a packet.
- Smooth-spinning design with round eyes for strong, tidy knots.
- Works with Covert Easi Clips, Speed Links and Q-Rings for quick hooklink changes.
Quick verdict
The verdict
These are a proper handy bit of terminal tackle when you want a compact, low-key swivel for lighter rigs. The smooth-spinning body and round eyes make them versatile without adding loads of clutter around the hookbait.
At £2.99 for 20, they’re sensibly priced too. They won’t transform a duff rig into a bite magnet, but used with the right hooklink, clips or rings, they make rig changes and bait movement nice and simple.
A versatile, sensibly priced mini swivel that earns its place in a carp or coarse tackle box.
- Product Quality
- 9/10
- Performance
- 8.8/10
- Impact on Fish Catching
- 8.6/10
- Ease of Use
- 8.4/10
- Value for Money
- 9.5/10
The extra-strong construction, smooth spinning and tidy round eyes give it the makings of a dependable terminal component.
It offers the movement and compact format needed for lighter, changeable rig applications.
Its low-key finish and free-moving connection can help presentation, though it’s one small part of the whole rig.
Compatibility with quick-change components is handy, but size 12 parts can be fiddly on the bank.
Twenty swivels for a listed £2.99 is cracking value for a useful bit of terminal tackle.
Head to head
How it stacks up
Side by side with the closest kit we've reviewed. This updates as we add more reviews.
Gardner Tackle
Gardner Tackle Covert Mini Rig Swivels (this one)
Top scorer
Top scorer
Scores are our own, out of 10. Best in each row is in green. Prices change, so check the latest before you buy.
The full rundown
Everything you'll want to know about the Gardner Tackle Covert Mini Rig Swivels
There are terminal bits you buy because they’re flashy and clever, then there are the little workhorses that quietly sort out a rig. Gardner’s Covert Mini Rig Swivels sit firmly in the second camp. They’re small, black and refreshingly straightforward. No daft faff. Just a compact swivel for when you want your hooklink moving neatly and your rig looking tidy on the deck.
This is the size 12 version, supplied as 20 swivels in a packet. That makes them a useful box staple for carp and coarse anglers alike. You can use one in a lighter carp rig, build it into a quick-change setup, or keep a few tucked in the terminal tackle pouch for those moments when a hooklink needs changing sharpish.
The anti-glare black finish is exactly what you want around the business end. It won’t make a poor presentation magically invisible, of course, but it keeps the component subdued. On a dark lakebed, silt, gravel or a weedy margin, that low-key appearance is much nicer than a bright bit of metal waving around next to your hookbait.
The swivel itself is designed to spin smoothly. That matters because hooklinks twist. They get wound up during casts, dragged over a spot or spun about when a fish has had a good old bosh around the rig. A free-moving swivel gives that hooklink a chance to behave properly rather than coiling into a bit of a mess.
The round swivel eyes are another handy touch. They give you a clean point for tying knots, and the shape helps keep the connection neat. Whether you’re tying a hooklink directly or linking the swivel into another component, you’re not fighting an awkward, sharp-edged eye. That’s proper useful when you’re trying to tie a reliable knot with cold hands.
Size 12 makes these more about finesse than hauling. Think compact rigs, lighter hooklinks and situations where you don’t want a chunky swivel spoiling the presentation. They’ll suit a careful margin approach, a tidy bottom-bait rig or a coarse setup where a little freedom in the hooklink can help the bait behave naturally.
They also work with Gardner’s Covert Easi Clips, Speed Links and Q-Rings. That gives you a few routes for quick hooklink changes, whether you’re swapping from a bottom bait to a wafter, changing hook sizes or simply ditching a rig that’s been dragged through a nasty bit of weed. Less messing about is always welcome when the rods are off.
At £2.99 for 20, they’re good-value terminal tackle rather than some precious boutique component. You can use them sensibly without flinching every time one disappears into the silt or gets cut off after a snaggy encounter. That said, they’re still small, so keep them in a proper box. Finding one loose in the grass is a mug’s game.
The main thing to remember is to match them to the job. These are versatile mini rig swivels, not a replacement for every heavier swivel in your tackle box. If you’re fishing brutal weed, snaggy margins or serious leads and leaders, choose the rest of the rig with the same care. Used in the right situation, though, they’re a cracking little addition: discreet, smooth and dead handy when you want a clean, changeable presentation.
Specifications
The nuts and bolts
- Product code
- SWV12
- Size
- 12
- Finish
- Anti-glare black
- Quantity
- 20 swivels per packet
- Price
- £2.99 listed by Gardner and Total Fishing Tackle
- Compatibility
- Covert Easi Clips, Speed Links and Q-Rings
Specs checked with Gardner Tackle, Oct 2026.
Spot a model or spec change?
Our take
Small swivel, plenty of jobs
The Gardner Covert Mini Rig Swivel is aimed at finesse rather than brute-force, making it a tidy choice for delicate carp and coarse presentations.
Its size 12 format keeps things compact, while the anti-glare black finish helps the swivel blend into the business end of your rig.
Tiny component · Plenty of uses
A neat swivel for tidy rigs
The Covert Mini Rig Swivel is a size 12 component with an anti-glare black finish. It’s compact enough for lighter presentations, but still built to handle the normal jobs you’d expect from a proper rig swivel. The smooth-spinning body helps keep the hooklink moving freely and can cut down on twist during casting and fishing.
Those round eyes give you a clean knotting point. You can tie directly to the swivel or use it with Gardner Covert Easi Clips, Speed Links and Q-Rings when quick hooklink changes matter. That’s handy for mobile fishing, match-style tinkering or simply keeping your rig options open.
Worth knowing. Keep these for lighter and more versatile rig work. If the swim is full of snags or you’re using a very heavy setup, use a component size and strength that matches the job rather than forcing a mini swivel into a brute-force situation.
Carp and coarse · Less faff
A good fit for versatile anglers
Carp anglers will find plenty of uses for them in compact bottom-bait, wafter and margin rigs. The black finish is subtle, while the swivel’s movement gives the hooklink a little freedom around the hookbait. That can be useful when fish are having a proper look before committing.
They’re just as useful for coarse fishing, especially where you’re changing hooklinks or experimenting with presentation. Pair one with a suitable clip or ring, keep your knots neat and you can switch things around without rebuilding half the rig.
The questions anglers actually ask
Quick answers before they go in the box
How many do you get? There are 20 size 12 swivels in a packet. At the listed £2.99 price, that’s enough for plenty of rigs without making your wallet cry into its brew.
Are they only for carp? No. Gardner positions them for carp and coarse angling, and the compact design makes sense anywhere you want a discreet swivel in a lighter, changeable rig.
Will they stop every bit of line twist? No swivel can rescue a badly balanced rig or a twisted hooklink forever. They spin smoothly, but you still need sensible rig mechanics, careful casting and a hooklink suited to the job.
On paper
Pros & cons
What we like
- Compact size suits lighter, more subtle rigs.
- Smooth spinning helps reduce hooklink twist and lets components move naturally.
- Round swivel eyes give you a neat knotting point.
- Compatible with several Gardner quick-change components.
- Twenty in a packet for £2.99 is bob on value.
Worth knowing
- The small size may be fiddly if you’ve got cold fingers or poor eyesight.
- Not the obvious choice for heavy-duty rigs where a larger swivel gives more confidence.
- You’ll still need to match the swivel to the rest of the rig and hooklink.
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Your questions answered
What anglers want to know
The stuff you’d ask your mate on the next peg. Straight answers, no waffle.
01What are the Gardner Covert Mini Rig Swivels used for?
What are the Gardner Covert Mini Rig Swivels used for?
They’re used in lighter carp and coarse rigs where you want a compact swivel for movement, quick hooklink changes or reducing twist. They can be teamed with Easi Clips, Speed Links and Q-Rings.
02How many Gardner Covert Mini Rig Swivels are in a packet?
How many Gardner Covert Mini Rig Swivels are in a packet?
There are 20 size 12 swivels in each packet.
03Are these swivels suitable for carp fishing?
Are these swivels suitable for carp fishing?
Yes. They’re designed for versatile, lighter rig applications and are suitable for carp as well as coarse angling. For really heavy-duty work, choose components that match the strain and conditions.
What anglers say
The word from the bank
Our read: the verdict. The strongest reasons to choose it are compact size suits lighter, more subtle rigs. and smooth spinning helps reduce hooklink twist and lets components move naturally.; the main trade-off is the small size may be fiddly if you’ve got cold fingers or poor eyesight..
Our take on the feedback
Why it appeals
Checked Sept '26 — “Compact size suits lighter, more subtle rigs.”
Best fit
Checked Sept '26 — “Carp anglers fishing lighter, finesse-style rigs: The compact black body keeps the rig neat and less conspicuous, especially when you’re fishing cautious carp in clear water or the margins.”
Worth knowing
Checked Sept '26 — “The small size may be fiddly if you’ve got cold fingers or poor eyesight.”
Tackle Index’s take from the product details and fishing fit we checked. We haven’t found enough independent public feedback to call this an angler consensus yet.
Angler score
What our readers rate Gardner Tackle Covert Mini Rig Swivels
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