ProView – C.A.M.P. Janja Collection Review

The Moab region might not be famously known for its sport climbing but there is still a lot of it to be had! As a climbing guide that works full time in Moab, I spend every day in a harness, clipping bolts, gear and anchoring myself and clients.

The Janja Collection from CAMP was a full kit that was used a lot from work to play over the last month. This collection is rooted in Janja’s personality and ethos of striving to be the best version of yourself all while smiling and enjoying what you are doing. This mantra was well loved while I spent my days taking clients into the vertical world showing them that the improbable was quite possible!

Overall, this collection is not any different than CAMP’s non-Janja branded version of these items. If you have experience with the Photon Lock carabiners, Photon Express KS quickdraws and the Energy harness then you are in familiar terrain.

The main difference is the new colors and “Janja” brand on the equipment. For those that want a splash of color and personality (like me!) with your climbing equipment, then look no further. All the gear sports a bright pink, purple, and gold color scheme that makes your gear standout and provides a bit of brightness in a sport that is most often known for neutral and masculine tones and over-the-top seriousness. This alone is a reason to purchase these products.

The other reason to consider the Janja Collection is to support an athlete (through a brand) that is one of the most successful sport climbers ever and who consistently speaks about joy, happiness, self-improvement and levity all while working towards long-term goals. The colors are rooted in her style that has been consistent throughout her climbing life.

I thoroughly enjoyed wearing a full pink and purple kit while out guiding as I found the brightness to be attractive, unique, and happy. I hope that this translated to my clients while they experienced something new and exciting and hopefully sparked in them the same love for movement, challenge, and being free that keeps Janja smiling.

Fit, Function, & Performance

The Energy Janja harness is a very comfortable harness despite being light. I found it enjoyable to wear both single pitch climbing and multipitch climbing where there were no hanging belays. I do not enjoy harnesses with fixed leg loops as sizing is quite challenging. For me, I needed an XL size but only for the leg loop sizing; this caused me to have to cinch the waist all the way down.

The simplicity of no buckles on the leg loops is nice, however, and I found them to be quite comfortable. Be warned, though, if you have larger legs, a narrow waist or generally are not square shaped, you just might not get a great fitting harness. My biggest complaint is the leg loop riser set up. The plastic cam-buckle is a great idea but in function it tends to get caught and lift thus causing your risers to lengthen unnecessarily.

The Photon Express KS quickdraws instantly became my favorite quickdraws for my personal climbing and for guiding. The wide dog bones meant they were incredibly comfortable to grab onto. This is an important feature in my line of work as often clients need to pull on gear for assistance climbing or cleaning the gear. They come in two lengths, which is nice, as this provides options to help reduce rope drag. The bright and distinctive color difference is excellent, as well, as this allows for clear visuals when giving directions to less experienced climbers (i.e. remove the pink carabiner, or take the rope out of the gold carabiner). This was all packed into a quickdraw that weighs 3.2-3.4 ounces each.

The Photon Lock Janja is a fantastic all-around locking carabiner. It has a “SphereLock” nose (same with the quickdraws) which helps it clean nicely off ropes, slings and bolt hangers This locker comes in bright pink which again, is excellent for making it stand out from other gear. Its weight and size make it an ideal carabiner for tethers and anchors.

I do not use chalk while climbing and encourage all new climbers to avoid its chalk use as it is the biggest non-required impact that climbers produce. Its visual impact is becoming a growing issue that land managers and owners are paying attention to. So, the Polimago Janja chalk bag was not used in a traditional sense. I prefer to use chalk bags as a simple multipitch fanny pack. Guiding in Moab often is in easier multipitch terrain that does not warrant a full climbing pack. The Polimago Janja chalk bag was big enough to hold a small first aid kit (think quick clot, gauze and tape), a satellite communication device and half a liter of water. Its wide opening, bottom and stiff rim means it’s easy to get in and out of and tends to stand upright when on the ground.

Friendliness to Earth

CAMP does not boast about any of these products using recycled materials or any other sort of “environmentally friendly” forms of manufacturing. CAMP, however, is a long-standing business that has been run by the same family for the last four generations.

The Final Word

The Janja Collection by CAMP is a bright and exciting addition to climbing gear that is often dull and simple. The gear that Janja has stamped her name and likeness on, though, is top notch climbing equipment that is designed to be light, comfortable, and highly functional. With no additional price markup, the Janja Collection is a perfect way to add some personality to your kit all while “smiling like a person who loves what they do”. 

---

Shop the C.A.M.P. on Outdoor Prolink. Not a member? Apply today
See other C.A.M.P. reviews