How to change the tip of your walking or hiking poles?

The tips are the most used part of the poles. They therefore tend to be the first to get damaged. Fortunately, they are easy to change. Let's see how to do it.

The tip is the most exposed part of your poles, it is the only part that is constantly in contact with the terrain, be it asphalt, dry earth, stones, or sometimes even snow, water or mud. It is also one of the most important parts of your poles, especially for safety and stability, as it is the only point of contact between your poles and the ground.

To protect your tips, you can cover them with removable tips, for example, when walking on concrete or a stony path. This will also help to reduce the noise of the tip hitting the asphalt. Nevertheless, after several outings, by supporting your weight and undergoing repeated shocks (especially in Nordic walking), it is possible that your spikes will become damaged, worn or even broken. To slow down this phenomenon as much as possible, when you choose your poles, you can opt for tungsten carbide tips. Carbide tips are much more resistant than the classic steel tips, they almost never break and allow a better grip on the ground. They therefore offer more safety. However, it is not impossible that the tungsten tips will slip out of their plastic holder under heavy use.  Don't panic! Anyone can change the tips of their walking or hiking poles!

Let's take a look at how best to do it.

• You can easily change the worn tips of your walking or hiking poles yourself. The technique is not only simple but also economical and you probably already have everything you need at home.
• The first thing to do before changing the tips of your poles is to get new ones. If possible, they should be made of tungsten carbide, for the reasons explained above. You can get spare parts from many vendors or dealers. 
• Then simply heat the tip with hot water or with the hot blast of a hair dryer until the glue no longer sticks.
• You can then remove the damaged tip with your fingers or with pliers. 
• You can now replace the old tip with the new one by fixing it with glue (a glue gun will make life easier for you). Make sure you place the tip straight, checking the alignment between your tip and the handle. Tighten it well. 
• That's it! Your tips are changed, you are now ready for new adventures!