Walking on Ice and Snow With Crutches or a Walking Stick
Icy pavements, wet leaves and dark afternoons make winter the trickiest season if you walk with crutches or a walking stick. A few simple changes to your walking aid, your shoes and the way you walk can make a big difference to how steady and confident you feel.
Get winter ready. Our High Performance Ferrules are reinforced for grip in all weathers, and a torch for your walking aid lights the way on dark evenings.
1. Check your ferrules first
The rubber tip on your crutch or stick, called the ferrule, is your grip on the ground. Once the tread wears smooth it slips far more easily on wet or frosty surfaces. Turn your walking aid over and look: if the base is shiny, flat or split, replace it before winter. Read our ferrules guide to choose the right one.
2. Walk like a penguin
On ice, take shorter, flatter steps and keep your weight over your feet rather than leaning forward. Place your crutch or stick tip flat and firm before you move your weight onto it. Slow is steady.
3. Choose the grippiest shoes you own
Flat shoes or boots with a deep, soft rubber tread grip far better than smooth or leather soles. Slip on shoe grips can help on snow, but take them off indoors as they slide on smooth floors.
4. Plan your route
Gritted main roads and busy pavements are usually safer than quiet side streets. Avoid shortcuts across grass, drains, metal covers and painted lines, which get slippery when wet or frosty.
5. Watch out for wet floors indoors
Shop entrances, station floors and supermarket aisles get wet from shoes and umbrellas. Dry your ferrules on a mat as you go in and take extra care on shiny tiles.
6. Light up and be seen
By 4pm it is dark for much of the winter. A torch on your walking aid helps you spot kerbs, ice and puddles, and helps drivers and cyclists spot you.
7. Keep your hands warm and your grip steady
Cold hands grip less well. Wear thin gloves with a grippy palm, and add padded grips to your crutch handles or a soft grip to your stick.
8. Do not be afraid to stay in
If it is genuinely icy, there is no shame in waiting until it thaws or the gritters have been. Order shopping online, ask a neighbour, or rearrange plans. Our guide on how to avoid falls with a walking aid has more tips.
Frequently asked questions
How do you walk on ice with crutches?
Take small, flat steps, keep your weight over your feet and place each crutch tip firmly before moving. Use worn free, grippy ferrules and avoid painted lines, drains and metal covers, which are especially slippery.
What is the best ferrule for icy weather?
A reinforced, deep tread rubber ferrule grips best on wet and frosty ground. Replace any ferrule that has worn smooth. Our High Performance Ferrules are designed for all weather grip.
Is it safe to use a walking stick in snow?
Yes, with care. Fresh snow is often grippier than ice underneath, so test each step, walk slowly and stick to cleared or gritted paths where you can.
How often should I replace my crutch or walking stick ferrules?
Check them every month or so, and replace them as soon as the tread is worn smooth or the rubber is cracked, especially before winter.
Planning a festive day out? See our guide to the most accessible UK Christmas markets.
