Beal Karma 9.8
The Karma 9.8 is a 9.8 mm single rope from Beal, at 58 g/m, for single-pitch sport, multi-pitch sport and trad. Rated for 5 UIAA falls with 7.4 kN impact force, 34% dynamic elongation and a 33% sheath share. No dry treatment. In stock at 13 shops from 114.90 EUR for 60 m.
Beal describes the Karma 9.8 as an intermediate crag rope for climbers moving to smaller diameters, balancing slenderness against control. 58 g/m, 7.4 kN impact force, 5 UIAA falls guaranteed (9 in Beal's lab test), 6.4 % static elongation, 33 % sheath. No dry treatment and no Unicore bonding. Sold from 50 m to 80 m and as a 200 m spool.
Karma 9.8 belay device compatibility
Compatible with 39 of the 41 belay devices we track that are rated for single ropes, all of them ideal.
Ideal on, among others:
Every belay device rated for a 9.8 mm single rope
What the Karma 9.8 is for
Best for single-pitch sport, multi-pitch sport and trad. Aimed at beginner to advanced climbers. Handling feel: supple. Durability: high.
Strengths & Trade-offs
Karma 9.8 strengths
- 7.4 kN impact force, joint lowest of the 23 single ropes at 9.8 mm we track
- Beal recommends it as a first thin rope for climbers moving down from thicker diameters
- 58 g/m, in the lightest quarter of the 54 single ropes between 9.6 and 10 mm we track
- Sold up to 200 m spools
Karma 9.8 trade-offs
- 5 UIAA falls guaranteed (9 in Beal's lab test), the EN 892 minimum for a single rope
- No dry treatment (a standard Beal finish: the treated versions carry Dry Cover or Golden Dry in the name)
- No Unicore bonding (Beal's Diablo 9.8 has it)
Karma 9.8 spec profile
The maker's figures for the Karma 9.8, each against the 133 single ropes we track.
- Weight 58 g/m: mid-weight for a single rope
- Diameter 9.8 mm: a mid-range diameter for a single rope
- UIAA falls 5: the minimum a single rope must hold; most single ropes hold more
- Impact force 7.4 kN: among the softest catches for a single rope
- Dynamic elongation 34%: typical stretch in a fall for a single rope
- Sheath share 33%: among the lowest sheath shares for a single rope
Karma 9.8 specifications
| Diameter | 9.8 mm |
| Weight | 58 g/m |
| Sheath share | 33% |
| Lengths sold | 50 / 60 / 70 / 80 / 200 m |
| Certified as | Single |
| Standards | EN 892, UIAA 101 |
| UIAA falls | 5 |
| Impact force | 7.4 kN |
| Dynamic elongation | 34% |
| Static elongation | 6.4% |
| Sheath slippage | 0 mm |
| Dry treatment | None |
| UIAA Water Repellent | No |
| Core construction | standard |
| Middle mark | Ink mark |
| Lap coiled | Yes |
| Released | 2024 |
| Bluesign | Yes |
What the Karma 9.8 costs
Prices checked 15 Oct 2026 across 17 shops that currently stock it. Cheapest current offer for 60 m: 114.90 EUR at oliunid.de, 21% below the 145.80 EUR list price.
| Length | Cheapest | Shop | Shops with this length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 40 m | 106.92 EUR | decathlon.de | 2 |
| 50 m | 95.90 EUR | oliunid.de | 9 |
| 60 m | 114.90 EUR | oliunid.de | 13 |
| 70 m | 129.90 EUR | campobase.net | 12 |
| 80 m | 149.90 EUR | campobase.net | 9 |
Shops stocking the 60 m length, cheapest first:
| Retailer | Price |
|---|---|
| oliunid.de | 114.90 EUR |
| barrabes.com | 114.90 EUR |
| epictv.com | 114.90 EUR |
| sestogrado.it | 119.00 EUR |
| verticalextreme.de | 126.23 EUR |
| bergfreunde.de | 129.59 EUR |
| sportokay.com | 131.11 EUR |
| bananafingers.co.uk | 136.77 EUR |
| terracamp.de | 157.41 EUR |
| beal-planet.com | 158.74 EUR |
| + 3 more shops | |
Alternatives to the Karma 9.8
- Edelrid Birdlime 1R 9.8
- Beal Berlin 9.8 Unicore
- Beal Booster III 9.7 Unicore Dry Cover
- Beal Tiger 10.0 Unicore Dry Cover
- Mammut 9.8 Crag Classic
- Singing Rock Kata 9.7
Prices, stock and owner fit data on this page update daily. You are welcome to cite these figures if you name climbing-gear.com and link to this page - see our data terms.