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An old hiking boot repurposed as a plant holder, with lush green foliage growing from it, set against a backdrop of a flowing stream and lush countryside.

Journalist and teacher Graziano Orsi
"A Wonderful Gift"

The "complete package" with the right shoes, insoles, sports clothes, bivouac, and backpack made Graziano Orsi's twelve-day hike unforgettable.

A Wonderful Gift

"My hike with backpack and bivouac led me last summer from Schlieren (Canton of Zurich) in twelve days to the Ticino village of Linescio. The focus was on openness to something new.

Doing something good. These three words briefly summarize my twelve-day summer hike across the Alps. And it indeed did a lot of good. After starting from my hometown in Schlieren, I spent every night except one at Capanna Cristallina outdoors, enjoying seeing the stars just before falling asleep in the bivouac. The restful sleep provided the necessary energy to move my legs calmly the next morning. 'Chi va piano, va sano, va lontano.' This Italian proverb means that the one who goes slowly maintains their health and goes far. And indeed, it was something inspiring for me to forgo my beloved touring bike to experience and enjoy the well-deserved summer vacation even more slowly and comfortably.

The Perfect Equipment

The equipment had to be excellent – as a novice on hiking trails, I made no compromises here. An ultra-light backpack, hiking poles, special sports socks, a foot cream, and foot plasters for preventive use were part of my gear. And one more thing: health shoes from Anova with custom-made insoles. And now this:

I had no knee pain. Incredible. My hips moved in harmony with the rest of my body, and my back didn't twitch once despite the thirteen-kilogram load. I was astonished. Amazed.

A young hiking companion I met at the beginning of the journey, on the other hand, showed me his 'battered' feet in the evening. In short: the investment in professional advice from podiatrist Lisa Petersen of Laufgsund, who recommended not only the custom-made insoles but also the shoes from Anova, was more than worth it. It was an investment in pleasure and the future."

Joy of Hiking with Anova Shoes

Walking was fun. Step by step, I could process the strains of everyday work. My skin rejoiced in a bath at a fountain in Göschenen. My nose delighted in the wild scents of the Bavona Valley. My stomach enjoyed the hospitality of a Ticino woman who spontaneously invited me for breakfast on her balcony. My eyes sparkled when they caught the patterns on butterfly wings for a brief moment. The blackberries by the roadside were a treat for the taste buds. The hiking poles fit joyfully in my hands. In other words: a deep presence in the moment was possible because I carried no worries. They had vanished. Yippee.

The "complete package" with the right shoes, insoles, sports clothes, bivouac, and backpack was, in the truest sense of the word, a wonderful gift for personal health. And it will continue to be.

Graziano Orsi is 56 years old and works as a teacher and freelance journalist. He loves to move passionately – previously mainly by bicycle and now also on foot.

 

Graziano Orsi's Hiking Route

1. Schlieren – Erlenbach
2. Erlenbach – Wädenswil
3. Wädenswil – Einsiedeln
4. Einsiedeln – Haggenegg
5. Haggenegg – Bauen
6. Bauen – Silenen

Portrait of Graziano Orsi smiling outdoors, wearing glasses and a light cap, with a lush, green background.

Graziano Orsi's Hiking Route

7. Silenen – Göschenen
8. Göschenen – Realp
9. Realp – Villa
10. Villa – Capanna Cristallina
11. Capanna Cristallina – San Carlo
12. San Carlo – Linescio

Impressions from the Great Hike with Anova Shoes

A rustic stone hut built into a massive boulder, surrounded by lush greenery and forest, with a hiking backpack resting by the entrance.
A charming stone house with a slate roof, nestled in a lush valley with white hydrangeas in the foreground and dramatic mountain cliffs in the background.
A rustic sleeping setup inside a barn, with a sleeping bag and mat laid on the concrete floor, surrounded by blue barrels and farm tools, giving a sense of adventure and simplicity.
Graziano berghuette vor felsen
Graziano Orsi hiking in foggy mountain terrain, wearing a green jacket and using trekking poles, standing next to a cairn of stacked rocks.
A rugged rocky ascent leading up to a mountain hut perched on the edge, with dramatic rock formations and a cloudy sky in the background.
Relaxed feet soaking in a mountain stream, with water flowing from a wooden fountain and a view of the Alps in the background under a clear blue sky.
Graziano aussicht walenseeScenic view of the turquoise Walensee lake surrounded by lush green hills, traditional Swiss houses, and the majestic Alps in the background on a sunny day.
A rustic stone hut built into a massive boulder, surrounded by lush greenery and forest, with a hiking backpack resting by the entrance. A charming stone house with a slate roof, nestled in a lush valley with white hydrangeas in the foreground and dramatic mountain cliffs in the background. A rustic sleeping setup inside a barn, with a sleeping bag and mat laid on the concrete floor, surrounded by blue barrels and farm tools, giving a sense of adventure and simplicity. Graziano berghuette vor felsen Graziano Orsi hiking in foggy mountain terrain, wearing a green jacket and using trekking poles, standing next to a cairn of stacked rocks. A rugged rocky ascent leading up to a mountain hut perched on the edge, with dramatic rock formations and a cloudy sky in the background. Relaxed feet soaking in a mountain stream, with water flowing from a wooden fountain and a view of the Alps in the background under a clear blue sky. Graziano aussicht walenseeScenic view of the turquoise Walensee lake surrounded by lush green hills, traditional Swiss houses, and the majestic Alps in the background on a sunny day.
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