Single ropes
Product 2026
Femme, Homme, Enfant
Designed as a versatile rope, the Beal Berlin 9.8 (€123.84 for the 40 m version) aims to accompany climbers both on indoor walls and outdoor rock.
With this model, Beal seeks to offer a balanced compromise between comfort, durability, and performance.
From the very first handling, the Beal Berlin 9.8 feels supple and pleasant to use, without giving the impression of fragility. Its intermediate diameter of 9.8 mm strikes the right balance: thin enough to provide excellent handling and smooth clipping, yet robust enough to withstand intensive gym sessions and outdoor cragging. Although it weighs about 11 g per meter more than the Joker, the difference is barely noticeable in use. The rope remains smooth-running, and clipping stays easy and precise.
Beal’s signature UNICORE technology bonds the sheath to the core, drastically reducing slippage and deformation over time. The result is a rope that maintains consistent performance even after many uses—whether top-roping repeatedly or leading routes. The high sheath proportion (around 38%) also enhances abrasion resistance, which is especially valuable in modern climbing gyms where ropes often suffer from friction on fixed anchors, as well as outdoors on ledges and ridges.
From a dynamic standpoint, the Beal Berlin 9.8 delivers a shock force of about 8 kN and an elongation of around 36%, reflecting a well-balanced performance. Falls are absorbed progressively, without harshness, while maintaining enough tension to avoid overly soft catches. Overall, it inspires confidence for both climber and belayer.
Over time, what stands out most is the rope’s consistent behavior. Thanks to UNICORE, it stays stable, resists twisting, and maintains a good balance between suppleness and firmness. Indoors, the Beal Berlin 9.8 runs smoothly through modern belay devices; outdoors, it handles repeated falls well and retains its shape.
The Test4outside team also highlights Beal’s warning: the Beal Berlin 9.8 is designed for personal, occasional use, not for intensive collective use in professional facilities. In short, it’s aimed at climbers seeking a single rope that can do it all—training indoors during the week and climbing outdoors on weekends—without needing multiple specialized ropes.
Middle mark: yes.
The Beal Berlin 9.8 is 100% recyclable, and for each rope sold, Beal plants a tree. Priced at €123.84 for the 40 m version.
In summary, the Beal Berlin 9.8 is an all-round rope, ideal for regular climbers who alternate between gym and crag, looking for a reliable, smooth, and reassuring model without having to juggle multiple ropes.
We used this equipment over a long period of time
These are our thoughts after intensive use:
Receive your answers by mail. Do you have a particular question concerning the design, use, durability or other about a tested product? We will answer your question personally.
