Tips, pads and grips are the parts of a cane or crutch that wear out. The frame usually outlasts them several times over. Replacing a worn tip is the cheapest safety fix there is, and it is the one most people put off.
How to pick the right tip
Measure the outside diameter of the shaft at the very bottom, where the tip slides on. Common sizes here are 5/8 inch, 3/4 inch, 7/8 inch, 1 inch and 1-1/8 inch. The tip has to match that number. A tip that is slightly too large will work loose, and a tip that is too small will not seat all the way.
When to replace a tip
- The tread is worn smooth or worn to one side.
- The rubber has gone hard or shows cracks.
- The cane slips on tile or wet floors when it did not before.
- You can twist the tip on the shaft by hand.
What else is in here
- Cane tips. Standard single point tips, glow in the dark tips for night use, and free standing tips that let a cane stand on its own.
- Quad cane tips. Small base and large base replacement sets, sold in packs of four.
- Crutch tips. Bottom tips for underarm and forearm crutches, sold in pairs.
- Underarm pads and hand grips. Foam cushions and grip covers, plus full replacement kits that cover pads, grips and tips together.