The 10 Best Walking Canes

For anyone who wants a steady hand on daily walks, the Medline Aluminum Offset Cane covers the basics for little money. The bend near the top sets your weight right over the rubber tip, and the foam grip stays comfortable on longer outings. A push button sets the height, and a twist collar locks it so it won't rattle or slip. The aluminum shaft is light but stiff. It doesn't fold, so it needs a full-length spot in the car.

The HurryCane Freedom Edition stands up by itself, so it's waiting for you when you rise from a chair instead of lying on the floor. Its three-point foot pivots to keep the rubber pads flat on slopes and gravel, and the shaft folds into thirds to ride in a bag. It carries a limited lifetime warranty. The tips are its weak spot: they're a custom design, and swapping them takes a screwdriver and steady fingers.

Built for bigger users, the NOVA Heavy Duty Cane carries up to 500 pounds, where most aluminum canes stop near 300. Reviewed, which judged canes with a physical therapist's help, named it its best overall pick for the padded, curved handle and a round tip that rolls smoothly through each step. A button and a locking collar set the height. It doesn't fold, and the warranty runs only a year.

When balance is the main worry, the Medline Small Base Quad Cane spreads its load over four rubber-footed legs and stays upright between steps. A small base takes up less room in hallways and doorways than a wide one, and the foam handle has the same comfortable offset shape as a standard cane. Assembly takes no tools. The base adds heft and makes each step slower, so it isn't the choice for brisk walks.

Sore hands get a break with the Carex Soft Grip Cane, whose derby handle wears a soft, latex-free coating that Carex says eases pressure on the palm and wrist. The aluminum shaft telescopes for height and comes in cheerful finishes like red marble and blue. A wrist strap keeps it handy while you open a door. Carex gives two different weight limits for it, so check with the maker if you're close to the top.

People with stiff or achy fingers tend to like a wide grip, and the REHAND Folding Cane has one: a long, palm-shaped handle that spreads the push across the whole hand. Its broad rubber foot lets it stand alone and holds on wet pavement. It folds into an included carry bag, and REHAND backs it with a two-year warranty. That wide foot is bulky on narrow stairs and in crowded aisles.

Style leads with the Switch Sticks Folding Cane, which pairs a patterned metal shaft with a contoured handle of real wood. It folds into short sections held together by a stretch cord, so it slips into a handbag, and a braided strap keeps it on your wrist. Switch Sticks sells it in many prints. Its weight rating is lower than most metal canes', and it may not extend far enough for very tall people.

Anyone who tends to hunch over a regular cane may want the Campbell Posture Cane. Its curved handle rises well above the usual grip, which the maker says keeps you upright instead of staring at the ground. The shaft folds, and a six-point rubber foot lets it stand alone. Ten height settings fit most adults. Campbell doesn't publish a weight limit, and the unusual handle doesn't suit every hand.

A hooked handle and black hardwood shaft give the Carex Round Handle Wood Cane the look most people picture. The crook hangs over a chair back or your forearm when you need both hands free. It doesn't adjust. Instead, you measure and then saw it down from the bottom, so take care, since a cut cane can't be made longer. Carex backs it with a one-year warranty.

Two handy ideas meet in the KINGGEAR Foldable Quad Cane: a four-lobed rubber foot that stands up alone and a shaft that folds for the car. The foam offset handle is kind to the palm, and a leather wrist strap keeps it close. It comes in bright colors like purple and teal. KINGGEAR is a small online brand, and its warranty covers a single year.