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Petzl Djinn Axess Review

A great all-around draw for those with large hands or who wear gloves
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petzl djinn axess quickdraw review
Credit: Petzl
Price:  $18 List
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Manufacturer:   Petzl
By Cam McKenzie Ring ⋅ Senior Review Editor  ⋅  Oct 7, 2020
74
OVERALL
SCORE


RANKED
#3 of 14
  • Ease of Clipping - 25% 9.0
  • Ease of Unclipping - 25% 9.0
  • Portability - 20% 4.0
  • Handling - 15% 8.0
  • Ease of Grabbing - 15% 6.0

Our Verdict

The Petzl Djinn Axess quickdraw is a solid performer and is one of our favorite models in this review. The solid keylock gates give you snag-free unclipping, and the gate action is nice and snappy. This quickdraw is constructed with durability in mind, with self-described "rugged" and large carabiners. The Djinn is a bit heavier than Petzl's flagship Spirit Express, but not as expensive either, which makes it appealing to entry-level sport climbers and those looking to save a few dollars as well. Petzl didn't break any technological ground with this new model. If anything, the company is thumbing its nose at the light and fast crowd and giving sport climbers what they really need: a draw that will withstand the wear and tear that clipping bolts and repeated top-roping will exert on their gear. We think these draws make for an excellent beginner set, as long as you will be using them for sport climbing.
REASONS TO BUY
Easy to clip
Durable construction
Large size works well with gloves
REASONS TO AVOID
Heavy
Dogbone is on the thin side and not easy to grab

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petzl djinn axess quickdraw review
This Product
Petzl Djinn Axess
Awards  Best Buy Award  Top Pick Award  
Price $19.95 at REI
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$19.95 at REI
Compare at 3 sellers
$16.00 List
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$14.00 List
Overall Score Sort Icon
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Star Rating
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Bottom Line Large carabiners work well with gloves onBest Bang for the Buck winner due to its solid performance at a relatively low priceA good choice for new climbers that do a little bit of everythingA good value pick for trad climbers or anyone looking for an inexpensive optionLeast expensive draw on the market
Rating Categories Petzl Djinn Axess Black Diamond HotFo... CAMP USA Orbit Wire... Cypher Firefly II Mad Rock Concorde
Ease of Clipping (25%)
9.0
7.0
8.0
7.0
6.0
Ease of Unclipping (25%)
9.0
7.0
5.0
5.0
6.0
Portability (20%)
4.0
5.0
7.0
8.0
7.0
Handling (15%)
8.0
8.0
7.0
6.0
5.0
Ease of Grabbing (15%)
6.0
7.0
6.0
4.0
3.0
Specs Petzl Djinn Axess Black Diamond HotFo... CAMP USA Orbit Wire... Cypher Firefly II Mad Rock Concorde
Weight (ounces) 4 oz 3.5 oz 3.1 oz 2.6 oz 3 oz
Gate opening bottom carabiner (mm) 27 mm 27 mm 27 mm 25 mm 25 mm
Width of sling (mm) 16 mm 18 mm 16 mm 10 mm 10 mm
Sling Material Polyester Polyester Polyester Dyneema Dyneema
Manufacturer Warranty 3 year 1 year 3 year At Cypher's discretion Limited lifetime warranty
Non-Snagging Top Biner Yes Yes No No No
Non-Snagging Bottom Biner Yes No No No No
Forging method Cold Hot Not disclosed Hot Warm
Unique features Large carabiners good for big hands or gloves, easy to clip Visual patterning designed to easily catch the eye while climbing Double wiregate carabiners Double wiregates with a rubber keeper on the lower biner Double bent wiregate biners
Available sling lengths 12 cm, 17 cm 12 cm, 16 cm 11 cm, 18 cm 11 cm, 16 cm 10 cm

Our Analysis and Test Results

The Petzl Djinn Axess has double cold-forged keylock carabiners, with a bent gate on the lower end. The sling is 12cm long and 16mm wide. This draw has some of the largest carabiners with the widest gate opening, which is helpful if you have large hands, or need something that you can efficiently use with gloves on when ice climbing.

Color Updates
The Djinn Axess is currentl available in a few new colors. Though Petzl has switched up this quickdraw's look from what you may see in our photos, the rest of its features remain the same.

Performance Comparison


petzl djinn axess quickdraw review - andrew testing the popular and easy to use petzl djinn on the very...
Andrew testing the popular and easy to use Petzl Djinn on the very pleasant vertical limestone of the Headstone, the Fins.

Ease of Clipping


The carabiners on this model are some of the largest that we've tested. The bent gate opening is 27mm wide, and our testers with larger hands found that the Djinn Axess clipped very easily. The wide gate opening also makes it easy to place a clove hitch or other rope anchor points in the bottom carabiner at the top of a climb.

petzl djinn axess quickdraw review - we found the djinn to be one of the very easiest quickdraws to clip...
We found the Djinn to be one of the very easiest quickdraws to clip due to its large carabiners on both the top and bottom, combined with its dual keylocking gates and smooth action.

Ease of Unclipping


The keylocking carabiners on both ends of this quickdraw prevent it from snagging on your harness, the bolt, or the rope when cleaning steep sport routes. The downside to having a keylock carabiner on the rope clipping end of a draw is that there is potential for the gate (which is heavier than a wiregate) to 'flutter' open during a fall. A carabiner with an open gate is significantly less strong than when it's closed (9kN open vs. 23 kN closed for the Petzl Djinn Axess) which can lead to the carabiner breaking. In practical application, the instances of this happening are exceedingly rare, but it is something to consider. Another downside of the solid gate design is the tendency for it to get gummed up and sticky over time.

petzl djinn axess quickdraw review - the keylock nose and large opening of the oversized biners on both...
The keylock nose and large opening of the oversized biners on both the top and bottom of the Djinn Axess make it very easy to unclip.

Portability


This is one of the heavier quickdraws that we tested, weighing 4 ounces per draw. If you're looking for lightweight draws. On the other hand, the Djinn are heavier because they're made with durability in mind. The bigger and heavier "rugged" carabiners on this draw are more likely to last longer than thinner, lightweight ones. Our testers, and the people we've had use these draws, all agreed that the elevated performance is more than worth the extra weight.

petzl djinn axess quickdraw review - 112 grams is the same as 4 ounces, making this oversized quickdraw...
112 grams is the same as 4 ounces, making this oversized quickdraw one of the heaviest we tested, but surprisingly not too heavy considering its bulk.

Handling


The Djinn Axess earned mix reviews for ease of handling. The oversized carabiners feel great in all size hands, but our testers with larger "paws" really appreciated it, as some of the smaller carabiners out there can be difficult for them to handle. However, they do feel slightly clunky on our harness when racking a whole set of them at once. This model also comes with Petzl's String bottom carabiner positioner, which is an external and removable rubber keeper. The upside to a removable keeper is that you can switch it out if starts to wear out or break; the downside is that it creates the potential for user error. Be sure to double-check that your draws are assembled correctly - the bottom carabiner must pass through the sling and the rubber String.

petzl djinn axess quickdraw review - with its over-sized carabiners, the djinn is an easy draw to get a...
With its over-sized carabiners, the Djinn is an easy draw to get a handle on. We also like how the Petzl String, the white piece of rubber shown here, holds the lower carabiner properly in place all the time, protects the sling from wear and tear, and can easily be replace if need be.

Ease of Grabbing


The sling on the Djinn Axess is only 16mm wide. While it is easier to grab than the 10mm dogbones found on lightweight models, it's not nearly as easy to grab as the wider slings on the higher end, and more expensive, draws, which usually have a slings in the 25mm wide range.

petzl djinn axess quickdraw review - while it doesn't have the super fat slings of the high end sport...
While it doesn't have the super fat slings of the high end sport draws, we found the Djinn relatively easy to grab in order to make a clip, aided by the large biner that rests below your hands and serves as a stopper.

petzl djinn axess quickdraw review - considering its large size and relatively heavy weight, the djinn is...
Considering its large size and relatively heavy weight, the Djinn is best used for sport climbing missions, and makes for a great entry level draw or durable choice for leaving hanging on your projects. Here Davy working out the crux of Solstice at the Fins.

Value


The Djinn Axess are priced about 30% less apiece than the Petzl Spirit Express, and might even last longer than them, so, all in all, they are a great buy with a moderate price tag. They are the highest rated draws that fit into our "affordable sport draws" category, so provide optimal value.

petzl djinn axess quickdraw review - at a mere $18 for one of the easiest to use and most preferred draws...
At a mere $18 for one of the easiest to use and most preferred draws that we tested, the Djinn is a fantastic value.

Conclusion


The Djinn Axess is a great, though heavy, sport climbing draw that should stand up to the wear and tear that bolts and repeated top-roping will dish out to your gear. High performing, easy to handle, and at an affordable price point, these are an excellent choice for newer climbers, or those who simply want great performance at a reasonable price.

petzl djinn axess quickdraw review - whether you are a new climber or a very experienced one, the djinn...
Whether you are a new climber or a very experienced one, the Djinn Axess are a very good and economical choice for your quickdraw purchase. Here Alon after clipping one at a solid rest stance in the Wooden Ship Gulley, Smith Rock.

Cam McKenzie Ring