The £70 to £120 price bracket for hiking boots is awash with designs similar to the Vojo 3 Texapore Mid: leather and mesh upper, mid height, and a brand’s own waterproof lining.
While a popular approach, it’s also very run of the mill and therefore hard to stand out. But from our testing in the Yorkshire Dales, there are a few aspects of the Vojo 3 Texapore Mid that do give it an edge over its many rivals.
Jack Wolfskin calls the Vojo 3 Texapore Mid a ‘classic, waterproof hiking boot for extended day hikes’. Though, in contrast to many ‘classic’ hiking boots, you’ll notice the price of the Vojo 3 Texapore Mid is vastly less than many premium options (less than half in some cases).
LFTOwww.jack-wolfskin.co.uk
Pros
- Better grip than many rivals
- Great value
- Good size range
- No break in time
Cons
- Not ideal for longer treks
- Not for technical terrain
Design and features
The Vojo 3 Texapore Mid is evidently aimed at hillwalking and mountain tracks that aren’t too demanding, while also offering good value. On that latter point, the boot's excellent price is largely achieved by using proprietary components – Jack Wolfskin’s own outsole and waterproof lining instead of Vibram and Gore-Tex, for example.
The upper is a mix of suede, leather, and mesh; each boot weighs just over 500g each. That takes it out of lightweight boot territory but isn’t yet in the heavyweight 600+g category.
Its tread looks reasonably aggressive for a more casual walking boot and overall, we found the construction feels quite sold. We were also impressed by the large size range on offer (UK6-15 for men, and UK3-9 for women).
Performance
As a general and casual use walking boot, the Vojo 3 Texapore Mid ticks boxes better than many more affordable options. One of the standouts, we found, is the outsole. A lot of sub-£130 boots have a simple outsole with shallow lugs. As a result, they are fine on well beaten paths and in the dry, but soon struggle when tracks get steep, wet, or muddy.
The Vojo 3 Texapore Mid outsole is better. It has a more varied and aggressive lug pattern that performs reasonably well when the terrain becomes more challenging. This includes some cleverly placed lugs at the heel that act as a kind of heel brake, which noticeably improves grip when walking downhill.
Out of the box comfort is immediate – we found there's no break-in time needed with the Vojo 3 Texapore Mid. And in terms of performance, this is very much a sub-alpine day hiking boot.
It's got plenty of flex and enough ankle support for most hillwalks. But it lacks the underfoot cushioning, toughness, and grip needed for multiday treks or big mountain excursions. But anyone expecting the Vojo 3 Texapore Mid to be up for those activities would be kidding themselves.
Jack Wolfskin’s Texapore waterproof membrane is very good too. It’s reliably waterproof and reasonably breathable. Another design touch we found particularly useful is that the gusseted tongue reaches all the way up to the base of the ankle cuff.
It means that ingress protection and the boot’s flood level are very good for a boot of this type.
Sustainability
This is one of the unseen but standout parts of the Vojo 3 Texapore Mid. Jack Wolfskin is one of the few outdoor gear brands to be a member of the Fair Wear Foundation, and one of fewer still that has ‘Leader’ status, meaning the brand scores very highly for ‘implementing human rights due diligence…responsible purchasing practices…and demonstrate best practices in complex areas such as living wages and freedom of association.’
Jack Wolfskin has also made big strides towards being PFC-free. All its clothing, equipment (including tents), and its proprietary Texapore waterproof membrane are PFC-free. The leather Jack Wolfskin uses is a by-product of the food industry.
Price and competition
As we stated before, there is no shortage of competitors. Keen’s Circadia boot is a similar performer to the Vojo 3 Texapore Mid, and is comparable in price and sustainability credentials too, although, its outsole isn't quite as grippy. Yet, Keen’s famous wide fit appeals to many people.
If you were after something with better grip, Merrell’s popular Moab Mid boot is a great option. It features a superb Vibram outsole and Gore-Tex waterproofing but you do pay £35 more for those upgrades.
But as an all-round easy hiking boot, the Vojo 3 Texapore Mid is well balanced in terms of performance and price. RRP is £115 at the time of writing, but it’s not hard to find it for less.
Verdict
There are cheaper versions of this popular type of walking boot, but we think the Vojo 3 Texapore Mid is one of the best and worth the extra. Not only does it outperform much of its competition but it’s also made by a brand with a more proactive approach towards sustainability than most.
How we tested
The Vojo 3 Texapore Mid was tested by Chris Williams (one of our staff writers and gear testers), primarily in the Yorkshire Dales over the course of several months.
Chris has been testing gear for us since 2021, and has journalistic, outdoor industry, and basically his lifetime's worth of hiking experience to bring to his gear reviews.