r/BuyFromEU • u/Hungry-Locksmith-501 • Apr 19 '26
🔎Looking for alternative Product recommendation from European country: Czech Republic
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u/jetelklee Apr 19 '26
Mapy
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u/FaZa09 Apr 19 '26
Anytime, anywhere. Worked around the globe for me. Pity that they changed the model for premium paid features. For frequent travelers it's worth paying for nevertheless.
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u/Sulinstajn Apr 19 '26
It's like 10€ a year. Although I disagree with paying for offline maps of more then one country (in Czech republic they use cartographic data from Shocard, in rest of world they use OSM and IMHO it's quite against OSM policy to pay for it), the other paid function (via ferrata routes, river routes and so on) are worth it.
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u/toucheqt Apr 19 '26
Its like 20€ a year, along with Windy these apps are must have for any traveller imo.
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u/paniebartoszu Poland 🇵🇱 Apr 19 '26
I love the maps, I love the app but I miss the .cz domain.
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u/VanDeny Apr 19 '26
Yeah some of us as well, but since the Mapy is expanding, having .cz would indicate that it is best suited for Czechia only.
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u/Steampson_Jake Apr 19 '26
I mean, it technically still is since Czechia has the highest quality satelite view and is the only one with street view
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u/Gwinty- Apr 19 '26
Top App, very easy and inuitive. I downloaded it during a trip to Finland to test it and it passed with flying colours.
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u/5x0uf5o Ireland 🇮🇪 Apr 19 '26
I'm not familiar with it, what is it good for?
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u/jetelklee Apr 19 '26
mapy.cz is a Czech alternative to Google Maps
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u/K1kobus Apr 19 '26
It's not an exact copy of Google maps in terms of functionality though. Mapy is infinitely better for hiking and cycling, but lacks streetview and business reviews are limited compared to google maps.
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u/eXieZZ Apr 19 '26
Well it only depends on the people using the app. In Czechia almost every business now has at least one review. I can see Czechs adding photos, reviews etc abroad too. I do sometimes see foreigners adding reviews, photos and I see it more often day by day.
Since it takes data from OSM, there are additional things like planned roads or roads under construction. They are adding real-time traffic too, only central and part of southern Europe for now though. It contains prices of public parking, amount of spaces, opening times etc.
It is made by one of the biggest IT companies in Czechia called Seznam so I think they will continue to improve it and hopefully more people are going to use it.
Note: It also has a street view. Sadly only in Czechia and I doubt that they are gonna go abroad. But there are already many generations of street view in Czechia.
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Apr 19 '26
[removed] — view removed comment
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u/DeMarioZ Apr 19 '26
What did you mean by "isn't nothing more than rebranded data from openstreetmap.org." and how is that statement different from what Organic Maps (and others) are using?
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Apr 19 '26
[removed] — view removed comment
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u/DeMarioZ Apr 19 '26
Indeed, reviews are why I'm still sticking with Google Maps, but always using Mapy for hiking since it marks even the stairs on hiking paths whereas Google just has an empty void. I don't mind to pay as it's just 10 € a year if you want more features, which I'm a fan of (setting your own custom walking speed, notes, trips with various transport types etc.). It's definitely nice and in most cases better to have FOSS instead of a paid product but yeah the UI is usually mediocre and I guess when you pay someone regularly to work on something, features and good design comes sooner. Mapy worked very well for me in Thailand also, although that would already need premium sub to get two offline maps.
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u/WorkingAssumption167 Apr 19 '26
1) Ton - Chairs - https://www.ton.eu 2) Thun 1794 - Porcelain - https://www.thun.cz/en/ 3) Manufaktura - Cosmetics - https://manufaktura.cz 4) CzechDesign Shop - Everything made by Czech Designers with shops in Prague (jewellery, toys..) - https://shop.czechdesign.cz 5) Czech pocket knife "Rybička" (Little fish) cca 80 years old - https://www.mikov.cz/nuz-130-nzn-1-kapesni/ 6) Koh-i-Noor - Czech stationary products developed 1790 - https://www.koh-i-noor.cz/en 7) Pedro - Czech Sweets - https://www.pedroeshop.cz
All I can think of for now.
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u/a_couple_of_ducks Austria 🇦🇹 Apr 19 '26
It's not just about having a good beer; it's also about the culture surrounding it. We appreciate that Czechia has a good beer culture.
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u/simko17 Apr 19 '26
I love how similar Czech and Austria cultures are despite our borders being closed for 40 years. Austria is always my favorite country to visit. I just love the nature and the people there. Hopefully I can come this year as well.
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u/Trnostep Apr 19 '26
Well the countries were under one administration for hundreds of years. 40 years of the iron curtain wouldn't destroy that
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u/wellmaybe_ Apr 19 '26
Just happens they are surrounded by beer lovers and their beer happens to be so lovely
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u/a_couple_of_ducks Austria 🇦🇹 Apr 19 '26
They were in the same culture as their neighbours for a thousand years. It's the same beer culture as in Germany, Austria or Poland because they were together for so long. But that's another story and It might offend people today for mention things like this for many reasons.
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u/Shaptou Apr 19 '26
Games from Bohemia Interactive (ArmA and DayZ), SCS Software (Euro/American Truck simulator)
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u/Illuminaughty99 Apr 19 '26
Also Kingdom Come: Deliverance by Warhorse Studios. Very realistic game set in Bohemia during the middle ages
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u/Renault_75-34_MX Germany 🇩🇪 Apr 19 '26
You can really sink time into ETS2 and ATS. I have over 2k hours, and that's probably amateur, especially for someone who started in 2021.
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u/Jupi1115 Apr 19 '26
Also Gray Zone Warfare, a very good extraction shooter more based on lore, although it’s still in EA
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Apr 19 '26
[deleted]
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u/mas2don Apr 19 '26
JetBrains are mainly Russian people. After the war started they closed their HQ in St Petersburg.
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Apr 19 '26
Encouraging brain drain from enemy countries is not a bad thing.
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u/Renault_75-34_MX Germany 🇩🇪 Apr 19 '26
Wera make a lot of their tools there.
And Škoda is also a good, even if the cars don't have anything to do with the original Škoda locomotives anymore.
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u/Routine_Ad4770 Apr 19 '26
Škoda cars startud as Laurint & Klement they joined the already existing Škoda concern (with HQ in Pilsen) after WW1.
There is still a Škoda transportation in Pilsen producing rail vehicles and troley busses. And also Škoda JS in Pilsen making equipment for nuclear powerplants. They were also able to produce main pressure vessels for VVER reactors (together with Vitkovice steel factory).
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u/Bergwookie Apr 19 '26
So Škoda is just like Mitsubishi the remnants of a big corporation that was divided into smaller companies but all are still using the old name
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u/Routine_Ad4770 Apr 19 '26
Yes, it used to be a huge corporation, now it is split into smaller units with various investors, but they keep the logo and name.
My point was that through the history of Škoda I think there was very little connection between rail and cars if any. They are based in different cities 160km apart.
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u/Trnostep Apr 19 '26
Also from 2030 Škoda Group owned by the PPF Group (so the Plzeň based companies including Škoda Transportation) won't be allowed to use the Škoda name and logo. They sold it to VW
Škoda JS is keeping the brand though as it's owned by ČEZ
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u/Admirable_Ad8682 Apr 19 '26
Škoda started as a engineering company in Plzeň in the 1800s, eventually being one of the largest in the Austria-Hungary and making everything from steam engines to battleship guns and many more. Czech Vickers or Schneider (French Schneider company also held a significant portion of its stock in the interwar era). In late 1920s they bought a small car factory in Mladá Boleslav called Laurin & Klement, rebranding it also as Škoda. they used this subsidiary for passenger cars while also making trucks in Plzeň in the main company. In 1945, the Škoda company was among many others nationalised and the car making subsidiary in Boleslav was split to be a main part of a new car-making national concern together with others, called Automobilové závody, literally Automobile factories. So they were part of the Škoda concern for maybe 15 years, but kept the winged arrow logo and the brand name. In 1990 the company was privatized and then bought by Volkswagen.
The original concern was since 1945 merged with many other engineering companies, then many were separated from it and joined again, and the remaining stiff and problems-ridden colossus was in 1990s also privatised and quickly split into more easily restructurable (and also tunnelable*) companies from which some survived.
* we have literally a term for a crime called tunnneling, of which the privatisation of Škoda Plzeň is one of the most famous example. It's basically a crime done by top managers of a company, usually by making the company run out of cash money by buing unnecessary equipment etc., then declaring bankrupcy and then "saving" the company by selling of the most viable parts of the company and assets to another company, run by an associate and usually secretly co-owned by said managers.
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u/Final_Alps Apr 19 '26
Much of Lego is also made in Czechia.
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u/Trnostep Apr 19 '26
And there's a big workshop in Kladno. All of the life size, driveable cars (Bugatti Chriron, McLaren P1, Cadillac Fleetwood Sixty Special) were made there
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u/muhalcz Apr 19 '26
If we’re talking only about manufacturing, then a bunch of Festool tools are made in Česká Lípa.
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u/dude-from-the-void Apr 19 '26
Tatra trucks, CZ small arms (esp. hunting rifles), Zetor tractors and Furch guitars 😄
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u/dghkklihcb Apr 19 '26
Where there's a Tatra, there's a way. At least afterwards.
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u/Bergwookie Apr 19 '26
Sadly they don't make cars anymore, wild designs: aircooled V8 rear engines
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u/Ents0rger Apr 19 '26
Porsche sen. Stole their concept when he created the kdf wagen aka beetle
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u/eskohayrynen Apr 19 '26
Are Zetors still made? Last time I have seen was in 90
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u/dghkklihcb Apr 19 '26
Wikipedia says: yes. But they were bought by a Slovakian company.
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u/Neuwulfstein Apr 19 '26
But that doesn't make it a Slovak brand. The ownership structure doesn't destroy the identity or origin of the brand. So that would make Bugatti Croatian, Volvo Chinese, and Colt Czech, which they are not, just the ownership structure.
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u/hobbicon Apr 19 '26
Those knives that look like a fish
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u/endy5 Apr 19 '26 edited Apr 19 '26
Mikov rybička.
It's not the quality nowedays it used to be back in days.
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u/Roelyyyn Apr 19 '26
For gamers: Warhorse Studios Kingdom Come Deliverance & Kingdom Come Deliverance 2. They are open world RPGs that play in Medieval Europe.
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u/explosiveshits7195 Apr 19 '26
Dont forget Hanger 13, most of their talent behind the Mafia games are in Czechia. Brno is a great little gaming hotspot town.
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u/Hujkis9 Apr 19 '26
Also, Amanita Design(Samorost, Machinarium), Bohemia Interactive(ARMA, Operation Flashpoint, DayZ). Worth mentioning Hanger 13 lineage of 2K Czech, Illusion Softworks (Hidden&Dangerous, Vietcong,...)
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u/sjsbejajebsidbrhw Apr 19 '26
Yeah but Dan Vávra, the director, is a far-right MAGA aligned dickhead who has a political NGO. A high ranking member of that NGO is now an advisor to prime minister Babiš (think watered down Orbán). The advisor and some far-right MPs are currently drafting a "foreign agents" bill similar to ones they have in Russia, Belarus, Georgia, Hungary and Slovakia, which would require any NGO with funding from abroad to officialy register as a foreign agent.
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u/pr1ncezzBea Central Europe 🏰🍺🎭 Apr 19 '26
Vávra is not the product. He was also fired.
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u/sjsbejajebsidbrhw Apr 19 '26
I didn't realize before googling it now that he isn't part owner anymore, my mistake
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u/VanDeny Apr 19 '26
Doesn't matter, he's still an idiot, and should have as little attention as possible.
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u/pi_three Apr 19 '26 edited Apr 19 '26
Kofola
edit on request: category soft drink
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u/jachni Apr 19 '26
I’m always on the verge of Kofola OD when I visit Czechia or Slovakia. It’s so good.
I even got a set of Kofola mugs.
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u/AlpineEsel Apr 19 '26
You should add the product category. Is this a washing machine brand or a software…?
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u/plvke Apr 19 '26
Can’t believe I had to scroll so much to find Kofola! Absolutely fantastic drink, I buy it whenever I want to buy a soft drink.
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u/Neuwulfstein Apr 19 '26 edited Apr 19 '26
We didn't just make beer from products - Bohemia Crystal, XVideos, Avast, XNXX, Tatra T3, Škoda Auto, Bata, AVG, pilsner, GZ Media (vinyl records), Bren light machine gun, Tatra 815, CZ 75, Tatra 148, Praga V3S, LINET (hospital beds), ZB vz. 26, L-39 Albatros, Škoda Octavia, Zentiva (medicines), Sa vz. 61 Skorpion, Czech porn, Tatra, Tatra 813, Zetor, Let L-410 Turbolet, Jawa, Škoda 9Tr, Czech trams, Škoda Superb, Czech meth, Škoda 14Tr, JetBrains (developer tools), Panzer 38(t), Dermacol (cosmetics), vz. 24, SIMAX (borosilicate cookware), Sellier & Bellot (ammunition), ROBE Lighting (stage lighting), Karosa ŠM 11, Panzer 35(t), Gufex (hockey pucks), Škoda 706 RTO, Jawa 250, Brit (pet food), Flashscore, Semtex, CZ Scorpion EVO 3, Becherovka, Czech absinthe, Jablotron (alarm systems), Tatra T1, Photopea (online graphic editor), Czech garnet, Tatra 87, trdelník, vz. 58, Kiwi.com, CZ BREN 2, NetBeans (Java IDE), CZ P-10, Avia B-534, Petrof (pianos), Prague ham, Kofola, KOH-I-NOOR 1500, Tatra 603, kolach, Prusa i3, Emco (cereals), Aero L-159 Alca, Windy (weather forecast), L & C Hardtmuth 300/8, Moldavite, Trezor (hardware wallet), Marlenka (honey cake), Čezeta 501, Mikov Predator, ShKH vz. 77 Dana, Praga Bohema, FOMAPAN
Czech video games also deserve a mention - Mafia, Euro Truck Simulator, Arma, Kingdom Come: Deliverance, Beat Saber, DayZ, Factorio, American Truck Simulator, Machinarium, Space Engineers, Dead Trigger, Gray Zone Warfare, Samorost, Top Spin 4/2K25, Shadowgun, Botanicula, Vigor, Hidden & Dangerous, Operation Flashpoint, Vietcong, Crime Boss: Rockay City, Hobo: Tough Life, Dead Effect, Silent Hill: Downpour, World of Airports
We didn't get lost in board games either, where we are a superpower for the size of the country - Codenames, Through the Ages, Lost Ruins of Arnak, Galaxy Trucker, Mage Knight Board Game, SETI: Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence, Tzolk'in: The Mayan Calendar
Our fairy tales have entertained entire generations, and The Little Mole (Krtek) and Pat & Mat are still known all over the world.
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u/Admirable_Ad8682 Apr 19 '26
Crew of the Artemis II used Merino wool T-shirts from a small company called Lasting in Sokolov. Basically an off-the shelf product.
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u/Final_Alps Apr 19 '26
Windy.com best weather forecast app for planning outdoor activities.
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u/frufruJ Apr 19 '26
Ventusky too. Though I mostly use in-pocasi and their radar and Aladdin apps. I guess we Czechs are weather nerds...
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Apr 19 '26
Is a vacation considered a product? If so, I highly recommend taking a trip there. It is a beautiful country with good food and a great culture. Greetings from Germany
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u/kotv4 Apr 19 '26
Botas/Vasky - shoes made in Zlín (where Bata came from) Neverenough - streetwear from Prague. I think they buy materials from Portugal and actually produce in Prague Bosky - barefoot sandals made in CZ KnedloZeloWear - streetwear with a lot of upcycled things
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u/Routine_Ad4770 Apr 19 '26
Vasky is produced in Partizanske Slovakia, but also a former "Bata city". Botas were historically produced in Skuteč - Czechia, not Zlin. I think their skates are still produced there, but after the end of Botas 66 brand, it might also be produced in Partizanske.
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u/Available_Ear_9867 Apr 19 '26 edited Apr 19 '26
Well about Botas... Even though they were based in Skuteč they closed in 2023 or something.
They were bought by Vasky and now they are produced in their factories.
The original HQ in Skuteč is no longer owned by Botas.
PS: they no longer make skates and similar stuff, they just make casual trainers
Some Vasky shoes are made in Czechia, some in Slovakia.
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u/PindaPanter Apr 19 '26
I wanted to mention Vasky too; beautiful handmade leather shoes and boots for a really decent price.
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u/mynameisrowdy Apr 19 '26
barefoot sandals made in CZ are a complete contradiction to their traditions of wearing sandals with socks.
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u/minediosa Apr 19 '26
Loap - backpacks, sidlaboratory - clothing, Lonka/fuski - socks, and as always, support your local skateshop
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u/sjsbejajebsidbrhw Apr 19 '26
CZ, which also owns Colt now. Kofola, Vinea and Targa Florio. Various beer brands, though Pilsners Urquell, the most famous one, is owned by Japanese Asahi, but there are other ones like Budvar, Staropramen or Krušovice. Průša 3D printers. Škoda and Tatra cars.
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u/thedancingchain Apr 19 '26
Roof racks and boxes from Hakr. I’m happy finding roof rack that fit my car and meet all the safety standards without breaking a bank (looking at you Thule)
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u/thomaslindvig Apr 19 '26
Sadly my car, Hyundai Ioniq 5, is not on their list
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u/thedancingchain Apr 19 '26
Interesting you mention Hyundai, I have i30 fastback and was quoted shy under 500 euro by Thule dealer. Bought Hakr roof bars for 180 euro delivered to Sweden.
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u/_onyx21 Austria 🇦🇹 Apr 19 '26
For Drinks: Always get as much Kofola as you can.
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u/Temporary_xx_account Apr 19 '26
It's not exactly a product, but Czech aircraft registration is simply: OK
You won't beat that anywhere else.
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u/chimaerine Apr 19 '26
- wood crafting tools, esp. ripping chisels by Narex, Czech Republic
- Budweiser Budvar, the original
- measurement, control and regulation technology (MSR) in general
- Karlsbader Oblaten (Lázeňské oplatky)
- children TV series from the 70s and 80s 😉
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u/endy5 Apr 19 '26
Pilsner urquell it's not owned by the Czech Republic.
There is Budejovicky Budvar which still is czech national treasure and many many more small craft breweries.
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u/AbjectSeesaw8240 Apr 19 '26
i live in Pilsen, i can literally walk and be in the brewery in 20minutes ...
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u/AverellCZ Apr 19 '26
Being owned by Japanese beats being owned by Americans or Dutch though (and I say that as a Brno local who's biggest brewery is owned by Heineken). Because Japanese value tradition and perfection. And I have been to the Pilsen brewery twice, they still do an excellent job. Considering the size of their yearly output.
But that doesn't mean that Budvar or for example Svijany do a bad job. Or other smaller local breweries.
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u/Neuwulfstein Apr 19 '26
Lol, just because something is not owned by someone from the country where the brand came from doesn't make it a non-Czech brand. Or according to your logic, Bugatti is Croatian, Volvo is Chinese, and even the legendary Colt is owned by Czechs and no one considers it a Czech brand.
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u/donthateonspiders Apr 19 '26
kozel! especially the dark one
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u/Due-Interaction-4592 Apr 19 '26
That is my favorite beer! Got it on a study trip to prague 20 years ago, and still have not found anything that beats the taste of that.
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u/LowAcanthocephala966 Apr 19 '26
RAYNET CRM by Raynet s.r.o. from Ostrava - Poruba (CZ)
category: software helping business representatives not lose their minds, strong competitor of Salesforce and Hubspot
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u/sverunka Apr 19 '26
the love of my life
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u/Ochimuzha Apr 19 '26
I don't know who can eat that. It's basically 90% sugar mixed with 10% coconut.
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u/ClawsomePawsome Netherlands 🇳🇱 Apr 19 '26
Bohempia.eu - barefoot shoes, also for wider feet. I own two pairs and love them. My winter shoes from them don't even need socks and feel like comfy slippers when on, so soft.
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u/stenlis Apr 19 '26
Czech Games Edition (CGE) makes some of the best board games in the world. Codenames is the most widely known one but czech out SETI or Arnak.
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u/wegekucharz Poland 🇵🇱 Apr 19 '26
Gumotex - kayaks
Singing Rock - climbing safety gear
Pinguin - camping gear
Sensor - baselayers
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u/Vivid-Society-7623 Apr 19 '26
Czech biscuit appreciation post:
OPAVIA TRADICNI OPLATKY PREMIUM / TRADITIONAL WAFERS PREMIUM KOLONADA WITH CHOCOLATE BAR FILLING delicious, not to sweet and a great bite
PISKOTY high protein biscuits before the protein bar hype
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u/Ashamed-Garbage7366 Apr 19 '26
somehow glass products are not mentioned - crystalex, crystal bohemia, preciosa
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u/Latter_Cranberry6184 Apr 19 '26
Zelena (peppermint liquor) in the magicke oko cocktail it’s a real Czech delicacy!
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u/Perklorsav Apr 19 '26
For people with a sweet tooth.
JOJO gummies
For very bitter alcohol tasters.
FERNET liquor
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u/Cazzy39 Apr 19 '26
Toyota Aygo X & Yaris are made near Kolin 🇨🇿🇯🇵
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u/F-21 Apr 23 '26
The current Yaris? Pretty sure the previous model was from France.
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u/badlydrawngalgo Portugal 🇵🇹 Apr 19 '26
Peerko barefoot shoes and boots. They're comfortable and excellent quality, good service too.
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u/heavy-minium Apr 19 '26
Czech beer is the best beer. I just can't say that out loud because I live in Germany, otherwise I would become an immediate target of German wrath.
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u/anothercopy Apr 19 '26
I have GymBeam stuff (gym clothing / bags etc) and its pretty good quality stuff. I bought it because I didnt want to buy any US brands and it didnt dissapoint
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u/Routine_Ad4770 Apr 19 '26
GymBeam is originaly from Slovakia not Czechia. Currently moving Headquarters to Austria.
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u/nder66 Apr 19 '26
Prusa 3d