Good to know. I have a Pulsonic Slim or something. Very nice. I might try any other ultrasonic one then.
Speaking about shoes, I’d love to learn how to do them. I was looking for a cheap introductory course but I didn’t find any/
Website and deliver it to a local business friend. We do have a branch in the US, and when some US colleagues travel to us, they bring my shoes with. 
1 Like
I am also pissed at these type of leather boots I bought once in Ochsner and once again in Dosenbach because already after two year of wearing them let’s say for 6 months each year they both broke! The sole gets “unstuck” from the leather. In both cases I paid approximately CHF 150 per pair. So if you tell me that these Allen Edmonds leather boots last a life time, I do not mind paying double the price (e.g. for these: https://www.allenedmonds.com/shoes/mens-boots/lace-up-boots/patton-weatherproof-cap-toe-boot-with-chromexcel-leather/SF4098.html). The “return on investment” is so much better. By the way they look fantastic… Do you know if there are any shops in Switzerland which also sell them? I would like to try them out see how they feel.
AE is a good brand but there are many other European shoe brands which also last a lifetime and may not cost as much as Allen Edmonds. The construction you are looking for is the goodyear welt. Once you find shoes which are made this way, you can trust that the leather is almost always good quality as well.
Bad leather with glued soles is the recipe for disappointment. Quality leather requires care but rewards you in the long run. Classic shoe brands also offer their shoes in various lasts. I have wide feet so knowing which last fits me makes it easier to shop online.
Here are two of brands to check out:
- Loake: I have two pairs from them and am extremely happy with them. Budget option out of the classic British brands but you can still send your shoes to them to get resoled or repaired. One of my pairs should be sent for resoling soon actually
- Carmina: Spanish and very high quality, not the cheapest though
and here’s a list of classic English brands from Northampton which are still made in England.
2 Likes
Personally, I have Heinrich Dinkelacker, Cheaney, Barker, Allen Edmonds.
They’re all good.
Which city?
Things change rapidly, but at least a few years ago Schuhhaus Gräb in Zurich had many of these brands. Or Schuhhaus Fricker in Basel. Monn in Ticino also has some.
1 Like
Wick Shoes (Zurich) has normally Heinrich Dinkelacker and Loake shoes. The service there is excellent and you will try and fit several shoes to find your perfect match. The guy there will explain you a lot of things and you will learn a lot. From there you find much easier the right shoes via the internet. I would buy your first shoe there and and it might cost a bit more - book this as an education on this topic.
Edit: Only the top Loakes collections 1880 are done in the UK. Most others like the L1 are done in the India production site.
1 Like
Right, forgot about them!
If they have the model in store, look at the Rio. Triple leather sole, metal cap at the front. Indestructible! 
Wick used to have Cheaney, too, but not anymore.
Isn’t there a store close to Löwenplatz in Zurich that also has Dinkelacker? 
2 Likes
I own several pairs of Fratelli Rossetti and I’m really happy with them
1 Like
Thank you all for you very interesting answers regarding leather boots. Now I finally understand why my crappy leather boots never lasted more than 2 years… what a waste of money.
After having checked a few websites Loake seem to be my favorite with Allen Edmonds. I will have to go and check that Fricker Schue shop in Basel, as I now definitely want to get a feel of these shoes on my feet. If it is possible to send them back in for repair them than it’s even better. Once your feet have formed the shoe it is hard to throw them away as it feels so comfy…
If you’re in the Basel region, there’s also a store in Lörrach, Schuhhaus Stroeber, that has Dinkelacker.
Last time I’ve been there they cost more than in Switzerland, though.
Thanks for the tip, they don’t have my favorite brands but I will definitely check them out. Smaller quality shoe shops in Basel have unfortunately closed down for most of them because of the harsh competition (online shopping, people to lazy to go to the shops, etc).
Total agreement on the necessary splurge of high quality shoes. I have a pair of weston that my father bought in 1989 and that are looking great after 30 year of use. Not pristine, but well worned
I have a pair of Alden Cordovan longwing, and while they are indestructible, the quality of fabrication is not as good as can be expected (small stitches a bit messy, etc).
For people living in Base/zurich area that want top quality shoes, you can consider the trip up to northern alsace where the heschung factory is located (https://www.heschung.com). You’ll get awesome shoes for half retail price at the outlet, and they are literraly immortal.
Also, if you have bought a quality pair of shoes, you should consider putting “patin” on the sole (flat rubber sole on the leather sole+metal cap), it greatly extend the life expectancy of your shoes, especially during winter (snowmelt and salt are not your shoe’s friends).
Speaking of trips, I went to Bietigheim-Bissingen and checked out the factory store of Heinrich Dinkelacker;I was in the Stuttgart region for other reasons, too – wouldn’t want to drive that far just for shoes. Anyway, if you call them before and tell them that you’re coming and what you’re looking for, they have good “B-Ware” (no idea what that’s in english).
And yes, many wonderful little stores shut down both in Basel and in Zurich. There was Monn in Basel; Schwarz Hüte in Basel; Parapluie in Zurich (an umbrealla shop, how cool!); Böhni in Zurich (they sold mostly high-quality gloves). And many more.
I guess most of you have been talking about classic shoes with smooth leather.
Do you have aclue where i could get durable sneakers (brand, store etc.). Not a shoe expert so I do not know if this exist but I can only tell you that a love my oldschool vans but they last 1-2 years max. Would be willing to spend a lot more if they last at least 5 years.
One thing I learned in this thread, priorities:
- Your own health
- Good shoes
- Family and friends
- Rest
Lol.
8 Likes
Same, I use sneakers as my daily shoes and have trouble have them still be usable after a year…
Maybe someone has experience with https://kuenzli-schuhe.ch/en/?
1 Like
I thought shoes first.
Because you got two of them, so definitely shoes first !
For me shoes usually break at the sole. So any cheap shoe will last very long if they have a thick sole.
But I guess 1-2 years is fine for a shoe. I’d eventually still want something fresh and new, even if it’s not completely broken. So I’d rather pay 50CHF every year and have new shoes for the next 6 years, than to pay 300 for one pair and then having to wear them for that long.
The best quality I found in a retail shop was with the Gallus brand shoes from Dosenbach. They are not super expensive ~60CHF and often on sale, but the design is usually no very “youthful”.
2 Likes
It’s been more than a year without a new post concerning…shoes!
I’m a fan of Belfiore shoes, they run a small shop in Milan. A pair is 220 EUR I think. Rahmengenäht. Great quality
2 Likes