A composite orthosis comprising: an upper part configured to be aligned with a lower leg of a wearer; a laminate fiber reinforced composite strut extending from the upper part; a footplate connected to the strut, the footplate configured to be underneath a foot of a wearer, wherein the strut comprises a plurality of fiber reinforced composite layers comprising, a first composite layer having longitudinal side edges and positioned and shaped to extend from the upper part of the orthosis and to be connected to the footplate, and a second composite layer containing a reinforcing fiber and having a first longitudinal side edge and a second longitudinal side edge, characterized in that: the second composite layer is positioned and shaped to extend from the upper part of the orthosis, the second composite layer having a lower end with a distal edge, the distal edge spanning the second composite layer's first side longitudinal side edge and the second composite layer's second longitudinal side edge, the total length of the distal edge being greater than the shortest distance between the first longitudinal side edge and the second longitudinal side edge of the second composite layer when measured at a distal end of the second composite layer where the first longitudinal side edge and the second longitudinal side edge meet the distal edge, the lower end of the second composite layer including a portion not parallel to the longitudinal side edge of the first composite layer, and the distal edge of the lower end of the second composite layer having a first portion that extends into the foot plate and a second portion that does not extend into the footplate. an upper part configured to be aligned with a lower leg of a wearer; a laminate fiber reinforced composite strut extending from the upper part; a footplate connected to the strut, the footplate configured to be underneath a foot of a wearer, wherein the strut comprises a plurality of fiber reinforced composite layers comprising, a first composite layer having longitudinal side edges and positioned and shaped to extend from the upper part of the orthosis and to be connected to the footplate, and a second composite layer containing a reinforcing fiber and having a first longitudinal side edge and a second longitudinal side edge, characterized in that: the second composite layer is positioned and shaped to extend from the upper part of the orthosis, the second composite layer having a lower end with a distal edge, the distal edge spanning the second composite layer's first side longitudinal side edge and the second composite layer's second longitudinal side edge, the total length of the distal edge being greater than the shortest distance between the first longitudinal side edge and the second longitudinal side edge of the second composite layer when measured at a distal end of the second composite layer where the first longitudinal side edge and the second longitudinal side edge meet the distal edge, the lower end of the second composite layer including a portion not parallel to the longitudinal side edge of the first composite layer, and the distal edge of the lower end of the second composite layer having a first portion that extends into the foot plate and a second portion that does not extend into the footplate. a first composite layer having longitudinal side edges and positioned and shaped to extend from the upper part of the orthosis and to be connected to the footplate, and a second composite layer containing a reinforcing fiber and having a first longitudinal side edge and a second longitudinal side edge, characterized in that: the second composite layer is positioned and shaped to extend from the upper part of the orthosis, the second composite layer having a lower end with a distal edge, the distal edge spanning the second composite layer's first side longitudinal side edge and the second composite layer's second longitudinal side edge, the total length of the distal edge being greater than the shortest distance between the first longitudinal side edge and the second longitudinal side edge of the second composite layer when measured at a distal end of the second composite layer where the first longitudinal side edge and the second longitudinal side edge meet the distal edge, the lower end of the second composite layer including a portion not parallel to the longitudinal side edge of the first composite layer, and the distal edge of the lower end of the second composite layer having a first portion that extends into the foot plate and a second portion that does not extend into the footplate. the total length of the distal edge being greater than the shortest distance between the first longitudinal side edge and the second longitudinal side edge of the second composite layer when measured at a distal end of the second composite layer where the first longitudinal side edge and the second longitudinal side edge meet the distal edge, the lower end of the second composite layer including a portion not parallel to the longitudinal side edge of the first composite layer, and the distal edge of the lower end of the second composite layer having a first portion that extends into the foot plate and a second portion that does not extend into the footplate.