“Do you find the soles form fitting and rigid enough to prevent sore feet-bottoms from terrain?”

Very well with the terrafi2. It also has a high R-value to insulate from hot dessert rock or cool tundra granite.
I did not know what I was missing until I wore the terrafi2. I wore the hurricane 2 (teva) before that and the sole is not as rigid. At first my feet muscles would hurt and I didn’t like small scree. It wore me down. My muscles eventually got used to it (maybe that was a good thing). Then I tried the terrafi2 and I was surprised about the night and day feeling of traveling on scree and hiking up hills. I also liked the more cushiony heels.

“I was considering some SOLE footbeds on less-rigid-than-hikers Merrell Ventilators. Seems inappropriate for use on sandals? Or?”

It should work (if you like inserts). My wife used to wear inserts in sandals. This got rid of her heal pain. Then she tried the terrafi2 last year and stopped wearing the inserts. She does wish the arch was higher. However, she has no more foot pain. All I can suggest is try it with and without inserts. I don’t need inserts in sandals but I do need them in my deep winter boots.

I only had to adjust the backstrap once or twice; and that was to get my arch centered perfectly. If not centered, you will get a sore foot. After that, there are just 2 quick straps to tighten up or loosen up, quickly, at will. I have fallen in love with Velcro; no more tying shoes!

May everyone find their foot zen <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

-Barry