Flat Feet Shoes in New Orleans & Metairie | Orleans Shoe Co.
Orleans Shoe Co. — See It on the Mat
Shoes for Flat Feet in New Orleans & Metairie
Flat feet can make long days on hard surfaces genuinely uncomfortable — and this city is nothing but concrete and sidewalk. We fit shoes that support a low arch and keep you aligned all day.
You'll see it yourself
The Imprint Doesn't Lie
Step on the Harris mat and a flat foot shows up immediately — the whole middle of the foot prints instead of just the outside edge. Ten seconds, free, and you'll know exactly what you're working with.
What Flat Feet Actually Means
The arch is the shock absorber. When it's low or collapses under your body weight, the foot rolls inward as you step — that's overpronation — and the load shifts up the chain to your knees, hips, and back.
Some people are born with it. Some develop it over the years as the ligaments loosen, which is why plenty of people find out at fifty that their arches aren't what they were at twenty.
Flexible or rigid
Some flat feet have an arch when you sit and lose it when you stand. That's flexible, and it's the common kind — the arch is there, it just collapses under load. Others are flat either way. The imprint and a look at your foot tell us which, and it changes what we put you in.
Not Every Flat Foot Needs Fixing
Worth saying plainly: a lot of people have flat feet and no pain at all. If nothing hurts, you don't need to do anything about it, and we'll tell you that rather than sell you something.
What we're looking for is whether it's causing you trouble:
- Heel or arch pain, especially first thing in the morning
- Aching along the inside of the ankle
- Sore knees or hips after a long day
- Back fatigue from standing
- Shoes wearing out fast on the inside edge
- Feet that feel tired out of proportion to what you did
What to Look For in a Shoe
- Structure, not softness. This is the one people get backwards. A plush, squishy shoe under a collapsing arch just compresses and gives you nothing. You want firm support under the arch.
- A stable, wider base. Keeps the foot from rolling in as you land.
- A firm heel counter. Squeeze the back of the shoe — it shouldn't fold flat.
- Not too flexible through the middle. If you can twist the shoe like a towel, it isn't supporting anything.
- Correct width. Flat feet spread wider under load. A shoe that's too narrow makes it worse.
- Removable insole if you'll be adding a support.
The Brands That Work
Athletic & everyday
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New BalanceOur first stop for flat feet. Real stability models and the widest range of widths we carry, up to 4E.
Women's · Men's · Kids -
ASICSBuilt-in stability for overpronation. The Kayano is the one we reach for most.
Women's · Men's -
HOKAMaximum cushioning on a wide, stable platform. Good when the miles are the problem.
Women's · Men's · Kids -
OnLightweight with a firm platform underneath. Good for people who find stability shoes too heavy.
Women's · Men's · Kids
Comfort & all-day support
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SASStructured support in widths almost nobody else makes, slim through triple wide. Handcrafted in Texas.
Women's · Men's -
BirkenstockThe contoured cork footbed builds an arch under a foot that doesn't have one.
Women's · Men's -
VionicOrthotic-level support built into the shoe itself.
Women's · Men's -
DanskoStability for long shifts on hard floors.
Women's · Men's -
TaosCasual comfort with real support underneath.
Women's · Men's
Dress
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AmberjackA dress shoe with real support underneath — one you can actually stand in all day.
Men's
Made by us
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VieuxDesigned in New Orleans, handcrafted in Portugal. Support built in, and you can't get these anywhere else.
Women's · Men's -
Jax & BardOur own comfort sandals — contoured footbed, adjustable straps.
Shop Jax & Bard
Free, no appointment, four locations. Don't see your size or width? Call 504-910-2900 — we can usually order it.
Arch supports often do more than the shoe alone. For a flat foot you want structure under the arch, not cushion. Our Power and Summit Pro supports are built for exactly that. We'll also tell you honestly when the shoe is enough on its own. See our arch supports
How We Fit You
- We measure both feet — length, width, and arch length, which is where your foot bends
- You step on the Harris mat and we read the imprint together
- We watch you walk to see how much the foot rolls in
- We pull shoes with the structure your foot needs, and tell you why each one
- You walk in the shoe before you buy
Free, no appointment, at all four stores. More on how we fit.
Bring your current shoes. Flat feet wear a shoe out on the inside edge, and that pattern tells us a lot before you take them off.
Also Worth a Look
High arches · Plantar fasciitis · Wide and extra wide · On your feet all day · Arch supports
FAQ
Can shoes fix flat feet?
No. Shoes and supports don't rebuild an arch. What they do is support the foot so it doesn't collapse as far, which is usually what relieves the pain.
Do flat feet always cause problems?
No. Plenty of people are flat-footed and never have a symptom. If nothing hurts, nothing needs doing.
Are cushioned or supportive shoes better?
For a flat foot, supportive. Soft alone compresses under a collapsing arch and gives you nothing back. The best shoes do both.
What if you don't have my size in stock?
We can usually special order it. Call 504-910-2900 with the style and size, or come in and we'll sort it at the counter.
Do you carry wide?
Yes. Wide and 2E in most brands, 4E in select New Balance, and up to triple wide in SAS.
Should I see a doctor?
If the pain is severe, getting worse, or came on suddenly, yes. We're shoe fitters, not doctors — we'll tell you when something's beyond us.
Come In
Magazine Street — 3112 Magazine St, New Orleans · 504-875-2929
French Quarter — 541 Chartres St, New Orleans · 504-350-0035
Metairie Road — 480 Metairie Rd, Metairie · 504-324-7718
Severn — 3000 Severn Ave, Metairie · 504-888-7080
Mon–Sat 10–6, Sun 11–5 (Severn opens 9:30). Walk in, no appointment. Call 504-910-2900. Fitting New Orleans since 2002.
This page is for informational purposes and is not medical advice. If your foot pain is severe or not improving, please see a podiatrist.