How we pick our products
Welcome to our big walking stick test 2023. Here we present all the walking sticks we have tested in detail. We have compiled detailed background information and added a summary of customer reviews on the internet.
We would like to make your purchase decision easier and help you find the best walking stick for you. You will also find answers to frequently asked questions in our guide. If available, we also offer interesting test videos. Furthermore, you will also find some important information on this page that you should definitely pay attention to if you want to buy a walking stick.
The most important facts
- The walking stick is a supportive walking aid and is particularly suitable for those who suffer permanently or temporarily from slight walking impairments.
- Medically usable walking sticks can be prescribed by a doctor for certain medical conditions. They are characterised by their metal tube and their height adjustability.
- Overall, walking sticks are the most affordable walking aids. Currently, the market offers many different models that are tailored to the needs of the user.
The Best Walking Stick: Our Picks
Guide: Questions you should ask yourself before buying a walking stick
When do I need a walking stick?
- The walking stick relieves parts of the body such as the hip and knee joints
- Overall, the use of the walking stick reduces fatigue and the risk of falling
- The walking stick is therefore a simple and effective aid for minor disabilities
Note, however, that this walking aid cannot and should not carry your entire weight. For this purpose, you should rather opt for a rollator. A walking stick used for medical reasons is to be distinguished from a walking stick and a walking stick.
The latter is also used by able-bodied people on hilly to mountainous terrain. With a walking stick, the appearance is usually more relevant than the relief and is therefore more of an accessory.
What does a walking stick cost?
However, these are usually walking sticks with an extravagant design. However, good products can also be found among the inexpensive models. So you don’t necessarily have to spend a lot of money on a solid walking stick.
What material are walking sticks made of?
In addition, a walking stick has a non-slip rubber at the lower end, which provides additional stability. At the upper end is the handle, which is often made of wood. Here, a shape that is comfortable to hold is advantageous.
How heavy is a walking stick?
Carbon is even slightly lighter than aluminium. Modern walking sticks made of these materials weigh between 350 and 500 grams on average. Regardless of the weight, both materials, carbon and aluminium, are equally robust and very suitable for everyday use.
What is the size of a walking stick?
Most models can be adjusted to a handle height of 75 to 95 centimetres. To find out the correct length of your walking stick for you, first stand upright (with shoes on). Let your arms hang loosely down and bend your elbow about 20 degrees.
The pole height is optimal when the handle reaches the wrist in this position. Rough rule of thumb: the walking stick is half as long as the user’s height.
Setting the correct height is very important. If the walking stick is set too low, you will have back problems; if it is set too high, you will lose stability when walking.
Decision: What types of walking sticks are there and which is the right one for you?
The main types of walking sticks are:
- Walking stick with knob
- Walking stick with round hook handle
- Walking stick with derby handle
- Walking stick with Fritz handle
- Walking stick with fisherman’s handle
- Four-legged walking stick
Depending on whether you need the walking stick as an aid for medical rehabilitation, to support you with a walking disability, as a simple walking aid or just as a chic fashion accessory, you can choose from countless variants.
Since poorly suited walking aids are not only unhelpful, but can sometimes also be harmful, it is important to weigh up the purchase decision. In the following, we present the most common types of walking sticks.
This should give you a first overview and support you in your purchase decision. In case of doubt, however, you should also consult a doctor, orthopaedist or physiotherapist to make the best choice for your body.
What is a walking stick with a knob and what are its advantages and disadvantages?
Walking sticks with knobs have been popular for centuries, especially as elegant fashion accessories. The knobs or balls that function as handles are often not very ergonomically designed and are only slightly wider than the rest of the stick.
In these cases, they offer only a very small support and holding surface and are not very suitable for therapeutic use. They are mainly suitable as decorative walking sticks.
What is a walking stick with a round hook handle and what are its advantages and disadvantages?
Probably the most classic walking stick consists of a straight stick and a curved, hook-shaped handle. The simple, often wooden walking aid goes back to a shepherd’s cane. The long hook-shaped handle allows you to choose the most comfortable grip point.
Nevertheless, it can become difficult to hold the handle under heavier loads.
Because it offers comparatively little stability, the walking stick with round hook handle is less recommended for heavier limitations or for joint pain.
However, if you are only looking for a light balance support, this support pole is definitely interesting. The hook is also very practical. For example, you can use it to close doors and hang the cane on a wall hook or on your own arm when you are out and about.
What is a walking stick with a derby handle and what are its advantages and disadvantages?
Walking sticks with a derby handle, with their curved shape, fit better in the hand than the two types of stick mentioned above, and the index finger can also be used to hold them. Therefore, the derby cane offers slightly more stability.
It also has a curved hook, but it is smaller and therefore not quite as practical. The very widely used walking stick is available in countless designs and styles.
What is a walking stick with a Fritz handle and what are its advantages and disadvantages?
Dating back to the famous Prussian king Frederick II, Fritz sticks are specially designed for people with wrist complaints such as arthritis. The special shape minimises pressure points in the middle hand area. This provides a firm grip and relieves the wrist.
The walking stick with Fritz handle is similar in design to the Derby stick, but has, among other things, no curved hook. It is not only suitable as a walking stick, but is also used as a rehabilitation walking stick and in orthopaedics.
What is a walking stick with a Fischer grip and what are its advantages and disadvantages?
The shape of Fischer grips is adapted to the human palm. In this way, the pressure is also distributed over the entire palm and the strain on the wrist is minimised. Fischer grips are often simply called ergonomic grips. They offer maximum comfort and fit very well in the hand even during prolonged use.
The modern walking sticks with Fischer grips are particularly suitable for heavier loads and for joint pain such as arthritis. As they are specially shaped for the palm of the hand, you can only use them for the right or left hand. You should therefore consider which version you need before buying. A smaller version of this type is called a walking stick with an anatomical handle.
What is a four-legged walking stick and what are its advantages and disadvantages?
Unlike the previously mentioned walking stick types, it is not the type of handle but the number of legs that gives it its name. With their rectangular and four-legged base, these walking aids offer even more stability than all the others. They even stand on their own and do not fall over.
The four-legged walking sticks are intended for patients who need a lot of balance support and have to put a lot of weight on the stick.
The disadvantages of 4-point walking sticks are that they are rather clunky and heavy.
You should consider the latter if you have less physical strength, for example. In the case of models with larger bases, it can also happen that stairs, for example, do not offer enough space to put all four legs on.
Buying criteria: Use these factors to compare and evaluate walking sticks
In the following, we will show you which factors you can use to compare and evaluate walking sticks. This will make it easier for you to see which walking stick is best for you. We have compiled these criteria:
- Height
- Foldable
- Weight
- Load capacity
- Design
On the following lines we have listed the factors and show you what the individual purchase criteria are and how you can classify them.
Height
If your height is within the average range, you don’t have to worry much about finding a suitable walking stick. As mentioned above, the rule of thumb is that half your height should be the grip height of your walking stick. Example: An adjustable grip height of 80 to 95 centimetres is suitable for people with a height of 1.60 to 1.90 metres.
This means that most models are suitable for many people. If you are relatively short or tall, pay close attention to the adjustable height of the poles. If the walking stick is too short, you will have to walk bent over and your back will be damaged
Foldable
Walking sticks are not very wide and take up very little space. Nevertheless, a foldable walking stick can be an advantage because it is even easier to store.
For example, if you want to have space when driving, you can sometimes even store the foldable walking sticks in the glove compartment to save space. This is one of the strengths of foldable models.
Weight
The lower the weight, the more comfortable the walking stick is to use. Light walking sticks show their full strength especially during longer walks. Modern walking sticks are made of light metal and thus combine high stability with a pleasantly low weight.
Nevertheless, there are differences in weight even among the newer versions. For those who use their cane frequently and for long periods at a time, or who are weakened, a lightweight walking aid is recommended.
Resilience
The load capacity indicates the total weight of the user for which the walking stick is designed. When buying a walking stick, you should make sure that your body weight does not exceed the maximum load capacity. Otherwise, in the worst case, you could break the walking stick and cause serious injuries.
Design
The assessment of the design is of course very subjective and should not be judged by us. There are many different designs of walking sticks in the range. The market offers almost everything from classic models with a wooden handle to colourful devices and expensive, very fancy walking sticks.
However, with very fancy designs, make sure that it really is a walking stick and not a decorative item. An optimal walking stick is therefore both excellent to use and visually appealing to you.
Facts worth knowing about walking sticks
How do I use a walking stick?
This question should not be underestimated, because a walking stick only brings the full benefits when used correctly.
- Hold the walking stick by the side like your healthy foot.
- When you take a step forward with your sick leg, move the cane forward at the same time. This will help you shift your weight.
- On stairs, hold on to the handrail and take your walking stick in the other hand. Take the first step with your healthy foot and then follow it with your sick leg.
Image sources: pixabay.com / stevepb
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