Footwear on Normandy beach tours

When we were there I don't remember any concern about footwear for the beach. First we spent very little time actually walking on the D-day beaches. Some of the areas around behind the beaches was sand but it wasn't muddy or dirty if that is your concern. It is a beach area and sand is common.

I've gone on 2 different DDay landings tours but neither were with Overloard. With both we walked over the dunes at one point and onto the beach. We briefly walked on the beach but it was hard packed sand so no issues. The walking over the sand dune was soft sand and it just brushed off. In another location it was pavement to the edge of the beach and then down steps to hard packed sand. I think your black athletic shoes will be fine as that is what I had. If anything you'd just brush them off once you were back to your hotel. My shoes did not get wet or dirty.

The day I did a D-Day beach tour (not Overlord), it rained buckets. So shoes conceivably can get wet.

Go to YouTube and type in "Normandy beach tour overlord", and you will get a couple of videos that may be pertinent - again, weather permitting.

During my winter visit to Normandy we walked on the beaches very little. The area above the beaches where we walked extensively was sandy but did not require any special shoes. The conditions during our time there were dry and sunny with no evidence of mud or muck. I wore my usual hiking style travel shoes.

Thank you for these helpful responses. I did order some inexpensive but well-rated shoe covers. (easy to pack) Might be a good idea to take them anyway as rain in April is not unlikely. Or, I'll just use my hood and umbrella as needed and have the adventure of looking for shoe covers in France if absolutely necessary. Those kind of unexpected interactions can be fun.

Check out tropicfeel.com. Killer travel shoes. They look good in the city and will handle whatever you want to throw at them. Did a single pack trip around France with a pair of these and some cheap espadrilles. Also great for the rocky beaches around Nice as well as easy on and off at the airport.

My spouse and I spent 6 weeks in France with just a carry on and personal bag, so you should have no problem if you're willing to be reasonable and wash clothes during your trip. Frankly, anything from a week or so to indefinitely doesn't require any more luggage. You just have to be willing to be reasonable and to do your wash.

As for visiting the beaches, the D-Day beaches are like any other. When walking across dry, fluffy sand above the high water mark, one might prefer shoes with higher tops to avoid getting sand inside one's shoe.

When walking across hard-packed sand in the intertidal zone, no particular shoe type is needed. But the soles of your shoes will get sandy, so try to scrape or knock the sand off before getting into your car.

If one wishes to wade into the water in the surf, then select your footwear based on whether you want wet socks or dry socks.

I wouldn't worry about getting your feet wet on the tour or beach itself, but Normandy often has a lot of rain. So just walking around sidewalks could get your shoes soaked. I used to carry a pair of running shoes (literally for runs) so I always had a dry back-up. But is is not like you will be wading out in the surf on the tour (unless you really want to).

I travel for the entire summer with just the lace-up athletic shoes on my feet. I don't remember any issues during my one-day Overlord tour. They do have a few different itineraries, so some variation is possible.

Edited to add: I take a waterproof version of my favorite shoe on trips north of the Alps or spring trips anywhere in Europe. My trips are long enough that it's impossible to know in advance that rain is extremely unlikely.

For any European especially French trip in April you need walking shoes that are waterproof -- or very water resistant. I have a lightweight pair of hiking shoes that I respray with waterproofing before every trip. I wore them almost every day in Pars this fall when it rained virtually every day -- buckets. And you always need two pairs of shoes for touring. So have a lightweight pair that will do for evenings and strolling on nice days and one sturdy water resistant pair. Your nice sneakers will be ruined in one day in Paris if it pours.

Thank you everyone. Lots of useful info. Susan

We did our Normandy beaches tour in early October many years ago. We've not been there in April, but we have been in the Netherlands at that time. In both places the weather was about the same -- cold, wet and windy.

My travel shoes for any trip are KEEN waterproof lace-up ankle boots like these Terradora II ones. I have a pair of the same color I linked to and a pair of dark blue ones. I also have a pair of original Terradoras in green. Many vendors sell them.

They are lightweight at about 14 oz per boot and seem to be indestructible. They are very comfortable for walking on any terrain, wet or dry, and for standing on any surface for long periods. The ankle support has kept me from falling on more than one occasion. I have never had a blister of any kind and my feet have never gotten wet no matter how bad the rain, mud, puddles or wet grass.

The Sockwell over the calf graduated moderate compression socks I wear with them help with circulation, fighting fatigue and keeping my feet dry and warm or cool as needed. They are great for on the plane or anytime my feet/legs have to be in the same position for many hours. I've built up quite a collection of those socks and even used a pair with the flats I wore to our daughter's wedding. These are not your typical old lady ugly compression socks. They are also available from many vendors. The ones I linked to are a design I have and love.

I wear that boot and sock combo all day, everyday, so for me they are not special shoes, they're my basic footwear. I rarely feel the need to switch to anything else in the evening because those boots and socks are so comfortable. If I do switch to the flats I always pack but rarely wear, I don't change the socks.

I travel light, using one of my 4.5 pound empty international sized 36-38 liter capacity 2-wheeled carry-on bags. My personal weight limit is 20 pounds fully packed. My personal item is always what the airline will allow and will hold my essentials, including the very small purse I use daily in country.

About the hood and umbrella combination. I'm not a fan of umbrellas. They're just one more thing to carry, they block other people's view during tours and they're useless in wind. I do always take a rain jacket/coat with a hood. I wear a ball cap or watch cap under the hood, depending on the temperature. Either works to hold the hood in the right position to keep the rain off my face and glasses.

Any water-resistant (not necessarily waterproof, but avoid mesh) sneakers will do the trick. You certainly do not need special shoes: it is not muddy, just sandy.

take sneakers that you can wear in the rest of your trip
What do you mean by "nice black sneakers" are they expensive shoes? If so then, wearing them on the beach wouldn not do them good, but you don't have to go On the beach itself, you can just stay next to the beach, although it would be a pity. Why not take less nice shoes, regular sneakers for the whole trip, comfortable is better than pretty shoes anyway, and this way you won't worry about staing your shoes.
April is still rainy anyway, especially in Normandy