I have arthritis in my feet, especially my big toes. It hurts to walk in any normal looking shoes because normal shoes are flexible and let my toe joints move too much. I've spend thousands on various orthotics that didn't work. I hit the jackpot a few years ago and found some comfortable, lightweight hiking boots with stiff soles. I wear them most of the time, but they are hot, and still pretty heavy. A few months ago I dug through the pile of orthotic junk I've accumulated and cobbled together (see what I did there) a pair of lightweight shoes that don't hurt my feet. All I did was take the carbon fiber plates out of some elaborate prescription orthotic mess that I paid hundreds for and didn't work, and simply glued them to the bottom of some spongy insoles with some RTV. Then I took the laces out of the eyelets that tighten the shoes around my toes. Easy, and they've been working for months. I've found a source for carbon fiber plate so I can make more if I need to.
