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Hitting the trail should be about the adventure, not aching feet. That’s why the Jack Wolfskin Wild Hike Texapore Mid hiking boots are immediately appealing, promising all-day comfort right out of the box. This style of modern, mid-cut boot prioritizes a lightweight design and excellent EVA cushioning, making long days on varied terrain feel noticeably easier than wearing traditional, heavy leather boots. By combining a supportive fit with features like a flexible synthetic upper and the proprietary TEXAPORE membrane for waterproof yet breathable protection, these boots are engineered to keep your feet feeling fresh, dry, and comfortable from the morning coffee to the final sunset view. We put them through their paces to see if they are the perfect choice for all-day trail hiking.
First Impressions and Fit
Jack Wolfskin has delivered a great, lightweight boot (the trusty CGR scales weighed them in at 426g per size 8 boot) with a modern look and strong performance. They follow the standard for a contemporary trail boot with a sleek upper and generously cushioned sole. They are what I would term a mid-top trainer style, featuring a fabric upper, synthetic leather reinforcements, and taped lace eyelets that extend over the foot to offer an excellent, precision fit. And speaking of fit, I found the toe box to be quite well sized for most feet; although if you do have a naturally wide foot, you should certainly try a pair on at your local outdoor retailer first.
Waterproofing: TEXAPORE in UK Conditions
The TEXAPORE lining has so far offered solid water protection, successfully keeping my feet dry in typical UK wet weather conditions, including persistent autumn rain. While I’m a huge fan of Gore-Tex for hardshell jackets, I’ve long been more sceptical about the extra cost for lining hiking footwear. Boots take a substantial amount of punishment on the trail, and a natural weak spot is the continual creasing at the front. Therefore, using a reliable proprietary membrane like TEXAPORE makes perfect sense and helps to keep the overall cost down. As I’ve said, I have been perfectly dry in the boots, and they are showing no signs of leakage. The design of the sole unit also cleverly works as a protective rand, with a durable coating over the fabric that extends down into the synthetic leather. This construction makes them pretty much watertight over a variety of challenging surfaces such as wet grass, mud puddles, and heavy rain.
Performance and Cushioning on the Trail
The sole unit is the absolute standout feature of the Wild Hike Mid boots. With generous EVA cushioning and a lightweight midsole (Jack Wolfskin maintains the TEXA theme with their TEXARIDE), they offer a super comfortable, truly all-day ride. The EVA cushioning effectively soaked up impact from rocky terrain and steep descents with remarkable ease, proving a godsend for my knees at the end of a long hike. In fact, they have been the most comfortable pair of hiking shoes—outside of dedicated trail running shoes—that I have worn over the last couple of seasons. The lugs are aggressive enough to cope with steep, slippery ground, and the traction has been perfectly fine on dry rock and technical trails. Simply put, top marks for the sole unit—it really is excellent.
Lacing, Durability, and Final Touches
The tongue is gusseted (a key waterproofing feature) and includes a well-sized, taped loop to help position it securely. This loop extends down the length of the tongue to give it structure, and the top loops also help keep the laces in place. However, the eyelets are taped fabric and unlined. This is a potential concern for long-term durability, as the fabric will inevitably wear through over time in this high-wear area. Lining them with plastic tubing would certainly enhance their lifespan.
The main design niggle I had with the Wild Hike boots is the placement of the top lace hook, which is slightly too high. This meant that when fully tightened, the laces sometimes flipped over the top of the tongue. This could easily be rectified in future updates by either lowering the lace hooks by 6-7mm or providing an extended tongue. Otherwise, they have performed flawlessly, and the best work-around is simply to thread the lace through the large loop at the top of the tongue for a snugger fit.
Finishing touches include generous and comfortable cushioning for the ankles, a stiffened heel cup to help with Achilles fatigue, a great heel tab featuring the Jack Wolfskin logos, and a nice JW paw print logo on the front. So, are the Jack Wolfskin Wild Hike TEXAPORE Mid boots good for all-day hiking? Absolutely. They will keep your feet dry in most conditions and are suitable for all types of trails, from local woodland hikes to fellwalking in the Yorkshire Dales and beyond. The price is competitive for a waterproof, lightweight boot of this calibre, and apart from the minor lacing niggle, they are an excellent investment. They also carry a Fair Wear label to so you can be sure the folk that make them are treated and paid fairly.
The Jack Wolfskin Wild Hike TEXAPORE Mid boots come in men’s sizes EUR 39.5 to 48 with three colour options. For women, they come in sizes EUR 35.5 to 43 and three colour options.
The SRP is £120 and they can be purchased from Jack Wolfskin UK and specialist outdoor retailers.
Disclosure – CGR reviewers and writers are never paid to provide a review and the website does not take advertising or link to affiliate sales. We are a bunch of keen climbers and travellers who accept sample products and offer an honest and independent review of the item.
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