Durability beyond the normal life of the shoe is paramount at Schuh-Bertl in Munich. Our Russia leather boots are proof: this monument of a shoe, virtually indestructible and time-tested over the course of decades as a reliable work boot, is something of a glacial erratic and looks completely out of place among its peers. Derived from a work shoe worn since the 1920s, it is manufactured using half-shoe lasts – straight at the front and quite high, with space for the toes. Bertl uses asymmetric lasts, which corresponds to the natural position of the toes and ensures adequate support without pressure.

This tough mountain shoe leather, also called Russia leather, has become a rarity. This oiled leather, derived from the skin of Southern German cattle, can be seen at the boot shaft with the openpore side facing outwards. It is sealed with oil and wax, making the Russia leather extremely tear-resistant, durable and virtually waterproof. Light scratches or bruises, like those that may repeatedly occur during use, can be easily rubbed away or removed by light oiling.

The double-stitching technique used by Bertl was developed around 200 years ago for mountain farmers and forest workers carrying out their daily tasks under extreme conditions. The insole is first sewn to the leather uppers and the lining to the so-called welt seam. Subsequently, the upper leather is folded outward and sewn to the rubber midsole via a second seam. It is thus stitched twice to the shoe bottom, making it "double-stitched" and producing a very stable shoe. Seam grooves are stamped into the leather at the reinforced heel cap, largely covering the seams and providing additional protection.

Durability beyond the normal life of a shoe and foot-supporting comfort have been the priority of Schuh Bertl in the Glockenbach quarter of Munich since 1989. Often historical models inspire his frame-based and double-stitched shoes. His shoes nevertheless meet the current demands of our time, which is why they have proven themselves for many years in everyday use. With a two-fold strategy, the Schuh-Bertl works as a shoemaker in his own workshop and as a developer who builds prototypes and then has them produced in small series. The Bertl shoes owe their wearing comfort to the fact that they are created on specially shaped lasts that meet the natural shape of the foot. They feature a straight cut in the front with a generously designed toe height giving the toes a lot of space.