Review: Protalus Insoles

Active outdoor enthusiasts share a Sisyphean struggle: trying to remain uninjured and able to fully enjoy our outdoor pursuits. Just when the boulder of therapy from one injury is heaved to the top of the mountain, the damn thing rolls right back down. A new injury, and a new round of therapy, begins anew.

So it was a few weeks ago, when, after a blissful, injury-free few months, plantar fasciitis set in. Oh, woe is me, not again! From one setback to another! Can't hike, can't run... what's the point of it all? The thing to do, I decided, was to read Camus and get some Protalus T-100 Elite insoles.

Thank goodness I did. The high-density rebound foam supported my arch and cushioned my heel—and right from the get-go, I felt better. On day one, I was walking around without pain. Day two, I took a short hike... no pain. Now, combined with my stretching and massage, I can see the light at the end of the plantar-fasciitis tunnel—or rather, the view from the top of the mountain.

Available online; $65.