How to choose crutch tips

by Milena Duarte

In our first blog post, we are going to answer one of the most common questions that our customers have: how to choose the best crutch tips for me?

The wide variety of crutch tips available can make the decision of buying new crutch tips a bit overwhelming, especially if you're buying them for the first time. But it doesn't have to be. With our tips (no pun intended) you will get all the information you need to buy the crutch tips that are best suitable to your needs.

You went out for a walk and then you realize that your crutch tips are worn out, so it is time to get a replacement. But with so many options available, it’s difficult to decide which one is better for you, after all, many of the specs at hand are just too technical and don’t give you the practical information you need, right?

So consider this a manual to guide you through the world of crutch tips. Here are the questions you need to ask and the factors you should take into consideration when looking for a new pair of crutch tips:

  1. The way you use your crutches.
    What do you need the crutch tips for? To put on your crutches, I know. But what are the specifics? Are you going to the beach? Are you just walking on paved sidewalks all the time? Does it rain a lot in your town? Do you go out on the snow?

  2. What is the diameter of your crutch post?
     Not all the crutch tips have the same inner diameter, as some are made to fit on what is called American crutches and others are made for European crutches. It’s a good idea to write down somewhere the diameter of your crutch post.

  3. Your previous experience.
    Think about all the crutch tips you had in the past. Which ones were your favorite and which didn’t work? Why? It’s easier to like things that we are familiar with and speaking of tips, a small change can be very uncomfortable, so try to understand the reasons why you like or dislike any specific kind of tips.

  4. Bottom diameter of the tips.
    Currently there are tips available at the market that are super narrow or super wide. Rule of thumb is that the wider a tip is, more stable it will be. But keep in mind that wide tips sometimes get caught up under furniture or doors, and that is annoying and even dangerous for some people.

  5. Shock absorption.
    Do you know that some tips have crutch absorption encapsulated inside of the tip? If you do need a little push upwards, consider these tips as options.

  6. Consider the weight, both yours and the tips’.
    Crutch tips have a maximum weight they can bear, so keep this in mind while choosing your tip. Also, each tip has a different weight, and this will be added to the load you have to carry on your crutches.

  7. Most of the tips today have a better durability than in the past, but some are more durable than others.
    Ask that to your seller, but keep in mind that durability varies according to the usage and care.

  8. Lastly, price.
    How much money do you want to spend on tips? There are tips from all price ranges – starting from as low as $19 (standard, not very durable) to $115 (winter tips with receding ice picks).

 

Now you know exactly what to look for when buying a new pair of crutch tips.

Most crutches available at the market, including the ones we sell at Award Prosthetics, come with a standard set of tips included. These tips are simple and not very stable, so we always recommend to our clients to upgrade the tips, buying a better pair and leaving the standard pair as a spare in case of an emergency.

Our Crutch Store at Ortho Dynamics have a wide selection of quality crutch tips from brands like Esenium, from Spain and Fetterman, from USA. Check our crutch store to see all the available options.

We ship to anywhere in the world and our customer service is available to assist you with orders and doubts. Still have questions about what is the best crutch tip for you? Send us an email and we’ll gladly help you with your choice.

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