Ice grips and cane ice tips: safer winter walking on snow and ice (2026)

Start with the right boots

Ice grips work best on a good boot. Canadian safety groups suggest well-fitting, insulated, waterproof boots with a thick non-slip rubber tread and a wide, low heel. Boots that are easy to put on matter too: zips or hook-and-loop straps beat laces if bending or grip is hard. Sit down to put boots on, and use a long-handled shoe horn if you can't reach your feet.

Related guides: Dressing aids for daily use · Balance and leg-strength exercises for fall prevention

Official source: Safety Tips for Winter Walking (Canada Safety Council)

Ice grips for shoes and boots

Slip-on ice grips (also called ice cleats or grippers) stretch over the sole and add metal coils or studs underneath. The Yaktrax Walk uses steel coils on a rubber-like frame with a heel tab, comes in sizes from extra small to large, and is listed at about C$25 to C$39 depending on size. Before you buy, make sure you can actually stretch them on and off. Many people find it easiest sitting down, and someone with arthritic hands may need help. Pick the size that matches your boot, not your shoe.

• Yaktrax Walk traction cleats for shoes and boots – Approx. C$25–39 depending on size (Amazon.ca, November 2026)

Take them off before you go inside

This is the most important rule. Metal coils and studs grip ice but become slippery on smooth hard floors like tile, stone, ceramic and polished concrete, including store and mall entrances. Take ice grips off as soon as you're inside, sitting down if you can, and keep them in a bag by the door. A chair or bench right inside the door makes this much safer.

Official source: Winter Walking Tips to Lower Your Risk of Falling (Alberta Health Services MyHealth.Alberta.ca)

An ice tip for your cane

A cane's rubber tip can skate on ice. A cane ice tip (or ice pick) clamps onto the shaft just above the rubber tip, with metal prongs that flip down for ice and up for indoors. The Vive pair has a five-prong steel base and a screw clamp and is listed at about C$15 on Amazon.ca. Vive says it won't fit quad canes. Flip it up every time you come inside, because the prongs slide on hard floors. Check the clamp is tight and the prongs aren't bent before each walk. Make sure the cane itself is the right height, with the handle at your wrist crease when your arm hangs down.

• Vive cane ice tips (pair) – Approx. C$15 (Amazon.ca, November 2026)
• Adjustable offset cane

Official source: Preventing Falls: canes, walkers and winter tips (Ottawa Public Health)

Walkers and rollators in winter

Rollator wheels don't grip well on ice or deep snow, and small front wheels can catch in slush. On bad days, stick to cleared, salted paths, go slowly with the brakes ready, and consider a shorter outing or a ride. If you need a walking aid outside but your rollator struggles, ask a physiotherapist or OT which aid suits winter conditions where you live.

Related guide: Rollator vs walker

Walk like a penguin

On a patch of ice you can't avoid, public health groups suggest the 'penguin walk': slow down, keep your knees a little bent, point your toes slightly out, take small steps with your whole foot down at once, and keep your hands out of your pockets so you can balance. Treat every dark, wet-looking patch as ice, especially in the morning when meltwater has refrozen. Use handrails on steps and ramps, and carry a backpack rather than bags so your hands are free.

Make your own steps and paths safer

Keep your steps, walkway and driveway cleared and spread salt, sand or grit before the ice forms. A small bag of grit or non-clumping cat litter in a coat pocket helps at bus stops and icy curbs. Good lighting at the front door and on outdoor steps lets you see ice in the dark, which matters more now that evenings are darker. A low door sill can also be smoothed with a threshold ramp, as long as you keep it clear of ice. Getting into a car is another common place to slip, so park on a cleared spot and sit down first.

Related guides: Night lights for fall prevention · Threshold ramps for doorways · Getting in and out of the car

Safety notes

• Suction grab bars are a balance aid only. They can release without warning and must never hold your body weight or be used to stop a fall.
• Anchor wall grab bars into studs or approved blocking, never drywall alone, and follow the manufacturer's instructions or use a qualified installer.
• Check the weight capacity and fit of any seat, rail or pole, and follow the manufacturer's instructions.