Hiking Shoes vs. Hiking Boots

Marketing professional Heidi Jewell is an account manager with VOCO Creative, a marketing firm based in Denver. Before relocating to Denver, she worked as a producer and host with PBS Digital in Nashville. In her free time, Heidi Jewell enjoys hiking.

When it comes to hiking, choosing the right footwear is one of the most important steps a hiker can take toward maximizing enjoyment on the trail. For hikers interested in shorter hikes on well-defined trails, hiking shoes are typically the best option. Lighter and more flexible than almost all other types of hiking footwear, hiking shoes allow you to move more quickly, at the expense of durability and protection.

If you plan to do longer hikes over less predictable terrain, hiking boots provide the qualities necessary for the job. Typically made from leather or synthetic reinforcements, hiking boots include features such as toe bumpers and lightweight plates underfoot, protecting the foot from bruising. Hiking boots also are useful for occasional hikers with muscles that are less developed, as well as individuals prone to ankle and knee injuries.                            

Concordia University’s Department of Communication Studies

With nearly ten years of experience in the communications field, Heidi Jewell serves as a liaison between clients and team members in the Denver area. A former resident of both Nashville and Montreal, Heidi Jewell is a graduate of Concordia University and currently works as an account manager for Denver’s VOCO Creative marketing agency.

The Department of Communication Studies at Concordia University was the first Canadian department dedicated to studying the art of communication and was founded in 1965. Undergraduates can choose between BAs in communication studies or communication and cultural studies.

Classes offer a joint approach of theory and production, and provide both theoretical and critical understanding of media processes. Graduate degrees are also offered without any prerequisite courses or degrees. Students in Concordia’s communication programs have access to state of the art facilities including film-editing suites, green and blue screen studios, a dubbing room, and sound recording suites.

Faculty members in the department are nationally and internationally renowned, regularly receiving awards, grants, and fellowships in the field of communications.