Pair of hobnailed boots

This pair of hobnailed boots are typical of tramping boots worn in New Zealand in the 1930s-40s. They are made from leather uppers with thick layers of leather stitched together to create sturdy soles.

Triple hobnails were nailed into the soles, with clinkers and tricounis nailed around the edges to improve grip. The placement of nails, clinkers and tricounis were important to trampers as grip was essential in rough terrain and wet conditions.

Tararua Tramping Museum Trust

These boots are from the collection of the Tararua Tramping Museum Trust, which was established in 1989 to acquire and display tramping artefacts. They were selected to represent developments in tramping equipment and aspects of the tramping experience.