Mardi Gras season brings fun and festivities to Louisiana every year.  For most, this means heading out to as many parades as you can.  Unfortunately, for veteran parade goers and newbies alike, parade season means spending a lot of time on your feet standing and walking around.  All that walking can mean torture for your feet, and whether you're marching down the street with Bacchus or taking in the craziness at Spanish Town, you need to take good care of those feet! Here is our list of the 5 most important things you can do to take care of your feet during Mardi Gras season:

Avoid Open Toed Shoes (Don't Go Barefoot!)

Any veteran parade goer will tell you (just check our Facebook!) that wearing flip flops to a parade route is a horrible idea.  Exposed toes find themselves in grave danger when surrounded by thousands of fellow parade spectators, not to mention the risks of broken glass, rocks and more.  The biggest problem with wearing flip flops at Mardi Gras though is the amount of support (or lack there of) that they provide your feet.  While they may be comfortable to wear around the house on a Sunday afternoon, flip flops just cannot provide the support and protection your feet need while spending your day on the parade route.

Wear Supportive Shoes

Parade season means a lot of standing around and walking, and the biggest thing you can do for your feet to keep them happy is to wear supportive shoes on the parade route.  Find a comfortable shoe that offers adequate arch support, with a compressible heel and lace them up tight.  The longer you spend on your feet, the more support your feet will need to keep going.  Before you hit the parade route, check out your shoe selection and consider replacing those worn out jogging shoes with a newer, more reliable pair.

Make Sure Your Shoes Actually Fit

Once you've found the right pair of shoes and you're confident that they'll provide the support you need to be on your feet, it's time to make sure they actually fit!  Wearing shoes that are too big or too small put your feet at risk of becoming sore and stiff, and a loose fitting shoe could spell disaster midway through your day as blisters can develop from rubbing against your feet. Not sure if your shoes fit properly? Take a look at our blog post to help you find the right sized shoe.

Don't Forget to Stretch

Parade season means a lot of walking and standing, and for many of us "throw me somethin' mister" can be accompanied by a lot of running after beads!  Knowing that you'll be on your feet all day, it's important to prepare your feet by stretching, and to do so throughout the day to keep your feet limber and relaxed. Check out our plantar fasciitis exercises page for some simple exercises you can do to stretch out your feet and make sure they're ready to go.

Unwind & Recover in The Healing Sole

After a long day on the parade route, you'll more than likely want to kick off your shoes and lean back in that recliner!  For some of us, this starts from the moment we get back to our cars to head home.  This is the perfect time to throw on your pair of The Healing Sole.  Your feet need time to recover after a long day of standing and walking, and The Healing Sole flip flops provide just the right amount of support you need, while incorporating several different treatment methods to stretch and reduce stress on your feet.