Yes, thanks NY Biker. I DO love those hiking boots, in my pre-orthotic days that was the only way I could hike. Not totally pain free but it was minimal, especially on real dirt trails. Thankfully my experiment with my Keene shoes with the orthotic last week was not only fine, but even less pain than with the hiking boots (though my ankles made it plain that I really need higher shoes). Those boots were spendy, but they made it possible to hike for a full year when I otherwise could not have done so. I'm thankful.

As always when I think about this, I'm struck by how expensive it can be to stay active at the "normal" level after a certain level of injuries, etc. Thankfully I've managed to scrape together enough to keep going, but it always makes me think of those who simply do not have the ability to find the money and are therefore trapped on the couch because it hurts too much to do anything else. Sobering.