Objects Database

Boreal rock climbing boots

Accession Number

816.2010.1

Object Name

Boreal rock climbing boots

Created

19/01/2010

Creator

Hermione Cooper

Accession Date

19/01/2010

Brief Description

Pair of rock climbing boots. Grey suede uppers and black rubber soles. 22 metal eyelets with red cotton laces.

Materials

suede , rubber, metal, cotton

Dimensions

26(l) x 8.5(w) cms

Number Of Objects

1 pair

Inscription Description

Inscription inside on sole reads "BOREAL 6 MADE IN SPAIN" Also letters on inside upper "122108 4 88/89". On outside small label reads "WILD COUNTRY" and there is also a round red and black circle with a white mountain goat inside.

Colour

grey, black, red

Maker

Boreal

Object Production Place

Spain

Provenance

Frenchman,Pierre Allain, was the first man to come up with the idea of smooth soled rubber boots for rock climbing in 1947 and he got a fellow Frenchman, Edouard Bourdonneau, to make them for him. Bourdonneau made his own later on, and rock boots in the early days were collectively known by one or the other Frenchman's initials P.A's or E.B's.
Various other companies entered the market in the 1980's, in particular the Spanish firm 'Fire' and as we write in 2011 there are dozens of different companies claiming that their boots are best.
This is a far cry from the days when climbers used rope soled shoes called espadrilles on the continent ,or 'Baffeez' in the UK. Woolworths plimsoles were popular too. How times have changed!

Acquisition Date

19/01/2010

Condition Check Date

19/01/2010

Rules

Spectrum : UK Museum documentation standard, V.3.1 2007

Modified

19/01/2010

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