The French Quarter Is Harder on Feet Than It Looks

People underestimate it every day. The Quarter is flagstone, brick, and uneven sidewalk, and it's genuinely rough on feet that showed up in flat sandals or brand-new sneakers.

Add the heat and the humidity and your feet swell — so shoes that fit fine at home feel tight by two in the afternoon. Then there's the walking itself: most visitors cover far more ground here in a day than they do at home, without noticing until it's too late.

If that's where you are right now, come see us. We'll measure both feet, take a free footprint, and put you in something you can finish the trip in.

French Quarter Store

541 Chartres St · 504-350-0035 · Mon–Sat 10–6, Sun 11–5. Also on Magazine Street.

Buying Before a Trip

If you're leaving in a few weeks, come in early — not the week before.

• Break them in first. Two weeks of normal wear before you fly. Nobody should be breaking in shoes in a foreign city.
• Get measured, don't guess. Feet change. The size you wore five years ago may not be your size now.
• Come later in the day. Feet swell as the day goes on, and that's closer to how they'll feel at hour eight of sightseeing.
• Bring the socks you'll travel in. They change the fit more than people expect.
• One pair that does it all. Luggage space is real. We'll help you find something that handles a museum, a dinner, and a ten-mile day.

Good For

Vacations · Cruises · Europe trips · Disney and theme parks · Jazz Fest and French Quarter Fest · Mardi Gras · Long weekends

Brands That Travel Well

All-day walking

• HOKAPlush cushioning for long-distance walking. The one people thank us for after a theme park day.
  Women's · Men's · Kids
• OnLightweight and packable, and they look like a normal sneaker at dinner.
  Women's · Men's · Kids
• New BalanceStability for long hours, and the widest range of real widths we carry.
  Women's · Men's
• ASICSStructure and cushion for people who need support as well as softness.
  Women's · Men's

Warm weather & slip-on

• BirkenstockNatural support with style. The closed styles handle cobblestones better than the sandals.
  Women's · Men's
• OluKaiEasy slip-on comfort for the relaxed half of the trip.
  Women's · Men's
• KizikHands-free. Worth it for airport security alone.
  Women's · Men's · Kids
• ChacoAdjustable straps and real arch support for water and trail.
  Women's · Men's
• TevaSport sandals for warm weather and long days.
  Women's · Men's

For the hotel room, after

• OOFOSNot for walking. For when your feet are done and you still have dinner ahead.
  Women's · Men's
• ArchiesArch-support flip flops that pack flat.
  Shop Archies

Made by us — something to bring home

• VieuxDesigned in New Orleans, handcrafted in Portugal. You can't get these anywhere else.
  Women's · Men's
• Jax & BardHandcrafted comfort sandals.
  Shop Jax & Bard

See the full list of brands we carry.

Why Fit Matters More the Longer You Walk

A shoe that's slightly off is fine for an hour and miserable at hour six. We check width from narrow to extra-wide, arch support, heel and forefoot pressure, and whether the shoe stays secure over a long day. More on how we fit.

If your arch needs more than the shoe gives, ask about arch supports — a lot of travelers add one and it changes the trip.

Also see on your feet all day, wide and extra wide, and plantar fasciitis.

FAQ

I'm visiting — can you fit me quickly?

Yes. Walk in, no appointment. A full fitting takes about ten minutes and it's free.

What if you don't have my size or width?

Call 504-910-2900 — we can usually order it, though if you're flying home in two days we'll tell you straight and show you what's on the shelf instead.

Can I return them after I've flown home?

Yes, within 30 days on regular-priced items. Bring them back or use our Return Center. Return policy.

Do you carry wide?

Yes. Wide and 2E in most brands, 4E in select styles. Narrow too.

Four Locations