No - as I said, technology has moved on in the last hundred years. I also don't wear leather soled hobnail boots on the hills.
Jim
Well treated leather is pretty darn waterproof (many boot manufacturers ie Lowa for one) make leather lined boots which sell well and are not so easily worn out as breathable waterproof lines boots, not so clammy in summer and asre full spec "modern".
As to nailed soles - they last longer, are fully repairable and give much better grip on icy paths than rubber soles. OK in fairness they are somewhat noisy on paved roads and rip up the paths more than rubber...
The only reason that nailed soles are not more fashionable is that they are more time consuming and need a skill based workforce to produce - and therefore are not commercialy viable in this day and age.
There are still "top end" boot manufacturers who will make you nailed boots and I think there are some Lancashire clog makers who will nail soles for you - sorry - I have not contact s for these guys.
Like most craftsmen based industries nailed boots have almost disapeared not due to any shortcomings of the basic design principles or the materials involved but purely on a price/skills/mass marketing revolution involving cheap, easily replaced, synthetics over something that would last a lifetime!
Did anyone notice in the papers a while back that HRH Prince Charles wears shoes that are so well made and used that he has them REPAIRED.
No disposable synthetic trainers for this man!
Ventile is my jacket fabric of choice as it keeps me more comfortable than most synthetics for more of the time in more weather conditions. Currently I have 3 single layer smocks and 1 double layer Parka. I wear Ventile most days.
I also prefer Merino, Bamboo and Silk for underwear and socks and midwear but cotton, silk or Bamboo shirts for warm weather. Cotton underwear and socks do not do it for me in high activity/humidity conditions but are comfortable for everyday wear.
Synthetics tend to be clammy and sweaty and pong too badly/quickly (compared to natural fibres) but I tend to get to wear a wide variety of stuff in a huge range of fabrics (in my role as a pro gear reviewer) and much of it is none too bad and some of the better designed synthetic fabric garments are very useful and practical.
If you follow what I write in the magazines you will see that more and more "naturals" are coming onto the market. Not only are people learning that "synthetic" technologies are not the "be all and end all" but that natural fabrics can be less damaging in production, transportation usage and eventual disposal than their plastic alternatives.
I would be suprised if the return to mainly natural fibre technology does not gain impetus and who knows - nailed boots may yet make a comeback!