As in the topic... I need to bring some swissie stuff to to my friends in California and Mexico. Swiss army knives are obvious - but not so good for women. Fondue sets - probably not so much fun in the hot climate. What else can I bring within a reasonable budget (20-100 francs per item)? Advice welcome

Chocolates (they won't be disappointed) and/or a good bottle of Swiss wine.

Swatch-es or Flik Flaks for kids.

For the ladies you can pick up products made from old Swiss army blankets, which is a bit of a novelty. They make handbags and purses of varying sizes and designs. There is a souvenir shop just after Rudolf Brun Brucke which sells them.

I wouldn't discount Swiss army knives for ladies, either. I have one and use it regularly for all sorts of jobs.

Hi, along the same lines as stuff made from army blankets, what about army blankets. they are great to use as picnic blankets, about 20 CHF from army surplus stores, wool, swiss red cross at bottom, nice quality.... or a railway mondaine clock from the ssb is a bit more expensive but also an option i would like to get!

Swiss army knives are good for guys (bigger one with lots of attachments) and ladies (smaller one for the purse).

But: The original Swiss army knives are sold cheaper at Target in the U.S. than at Coop in Zurich, even when they're on sale here.

What about Freitag messenger bags or Sigg drinking bottles? Both rather expensive items, I am afraid, but they do bring the Swiss charm (that's a good one) to Kalifornia.

I'd hate to receive one, but my parents still talk about the Swiss cow toy that giggles and moos along to the Sound of Music that I gave them as a novelty gift a couple of Christmases ago. Bought at Franz Carl Weber on Bahnhofstrasse in Zürich.

That reminds me of those tins which "moooo" when you turn them upside down. Endless fun for kids - nailbitingly irritating after the first moo for adults...

as annoying as they may be, my kids love those boxes that moo when you turn them. I have gotten them at coop.

The best place to browse for souvenirs in CH is called Army Liq Shops. These are Swiss-army staffed places selling everything old for just a couple bucks.


I recently acquired a couple pre-WWII horseshoe, along with a couple 1934 water bottles, for just a couple bucks.


regards

Cow bells might facinate women more than Army knife

- Basler Läckerli (available in one of the Läckerli-Huus shops or Migros)
- Women might like the real Swiss Army knives (the small silver ones that are actually handed out in the army - they're available in weapon shops)
- a cow bell (small ones are available in souvenir shops)
- An Alphorn (seriously - there are very small ones designed as souvenirs, that are actually playable (well, to a certain degree :-)
- A Swiss Railway wall clock

What not to bring:

Cuckoo clocks. They're sold in every souvenir shop but those clocks are NOT Swiss, they're typical for the Black Forest region in Germany :-)

peter

Hug brothers' Lackerli biscuits. They're sold in Coop and Otto's. Half price at Otto's, I saw last week. Tasty and chewy.

Swiss choc truffles - a hit with most folk.

Those Swiss sports fan T-shirts - the white cross on the red background looks good.

For those who bake, a Gugelhopf tube cake pan. They come in a few sizes.

If you want to take Luxembougilourgili (or however you spell it), make sure you buy them at the airport and take along a tupperware container with a small icepack in to put them in for the trip.

My parents love them but have only experienced them slightly squidged and a bit warm. Tupperware/icepack inspiration hit me after my last trip over.

If bringing chocolates from Switzerland, forget about bringing the packaged chocolates you can buy at the store (e.g., Lindt, Cambly, etc). These chocolates can also be purchased in the US and wouldn't make for a special gift.

Migros has the classic branche on sale, those are always a hit.

And even the Coop or Migros or Aldi chocolate house brands usually are a success with U.S. friends.

Thanks a lot for all the hints, folks! ))) That was really useful!

So I'll keep in mind especially:

* army knives for women (silver...I've see the Edelweiss version too)
* cow bells
* mooo-boxes for kids (one of my favourite alternative rock bands uses them on stage - actually... they play this Fri near ZH)
* swiss football shirts (Mexicans will love it)

The Swiss version Memory game is currently on sale at Coop.

Is there an army surplus store for this stuff in Zurich?

Thanks
Ashley

The army sells old material in seven "Army Liq Shops", none of them are in Zurich. In Löwenstrasse there's another store that sells army material (not only Swiss) called Bambus but I'm not sure if they have blankets. It's a bit a strange shop.