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Men's walking cane: sizing for taller frames, heavier builds and bigger hands
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- Heavy-duty folding cane with wood handle. Best for: Heavier men who want a cane that folds. See options on Amazon
- Adjustable aluminum offset cane. Best for: Everyday walking with some weight through the cane. See options on Amazon
- Extra-tall adjustable cane. Best for: Men whose wrist crease sits above 37 inches. See options on Amazon
- Fixed-length wooden derby cane. Best for: Men who want a traditional walking stick look. See options on Amazon
- Cane with Fritz handle. Best for: Men who find a crook handle uncomfortable. See options on Amazon
Check the top of the height range
Cleveland Clinic says the cane handle should line up with your wrist crease when you stand with arms relaxed, and that this height is usually about half your height with shoes on. For a man who is 76 inches tall in shoes, half is 38 inches. Drive Medical's standard folding cane tops out at 37 inches and its bariatric folding cane adjusts from 33 to 37 inches, so a tall man could find his wrist crease above the top setting. Drive lists an approximate user height of 5 feet to 6 feet 5 inches for the standard model, but your own wrist measurement is the better guide.
A cane that is too short makes you lean, which Mayo Clinic says affects balance. If your measurement is at or above the top of a range, look for a cane sold as extra tall, or a wooden cane fitted to your length.
Weight capacity
Every cane lists a maximum user weight. Drive Medical rates its standard aluminum folding cane at 300 lb and its bariatric folding cane at 500 lb. Choose a rating comfortably above your weight. This rating is about the cane's strength. It is different from how much weight you should put through a cane: Cleveland Clinic and the University of Arizona Center on Aging both say a cane supports up to about 25% of body weight. If you need more support than that, a walker is the usual next step.
Wood or aluminum
| Material | Strength | Trade-off |
|---|---|---|
| Adjustable aluminum | Set to the exact height with a push button; many fold | Check the button and collar often |
| Fixed-length wood | Classic walking stick look, no moving parts | The Arizona guide says it needs careful fitting because length cannot be changed |
| Aluminum with wood handle | Adjustable shaft with a traditional handle | Usually heavier than plain aluminum |
Drive Medical's bariatric folding cane is an example of the third type: extruded aluminum tubing with a wood handle and brass collar, folding into four parts.
Handle choice for larger hands
Mayo Clinic says to choose a grip that feels comfortable and suggests a bigger grip if grasping with your fingers is hard. Pain or numbness in the hand or fingers can mean the grip does not fit. Carpal tunnel syndrome has been reported with crook (umbrella-style) handles, according to the Arizona guide, which prefers foam-padded horizontal palm grips for that reason. Cleveland Clinic lists derby, Fritz, offset, palm grip and orthopedic grip handles as other options. If you will lean on the cane through the day, a flat offset or palm grip is usually easier on the wrist than a crook.
Fit check and safe use
- With the grip in hand, the elbow should bend about 15 to 30 degrees (Mayo Clinic) or about 20 degrees (Cleveland Clinic and the Arizona guide).
- Hold the cane in the hand opposite the weaker leg and move it with that leg.
- Replace the rubber tip when the tread wears; Mayo Clinic says the tip provides traction.
- Use the armrest, not the cane, to push up from a chair, as Cleveland Clinic advises.
For a full walk-through, see our walking cane guide. If you want more stability than a single tip, compare quad canes.
What to look for when you buy
Heavy-duty folding cane with wood handle
Best for: Heavier men who want a cane that folds
Drive Medical lists a bariatric folding cane rated to 500 lb, with a wood handle, brass collar and 33 to 37 inch adjustment.
Watch out: The 37 inch top setting may still be short for very tall men; measure first.
See options on AmazonAdjustable aluminum offset cane
Best for: Everyday walking with some weight through the cane
An offset handle sits over the shaft, which the Arizona guide says suits people with hip or knee arthritis, and the push-button shaft can be set to your measured wrist height.
Watch out: Check the push button and collar regularly for wobble.
See options on AmazonExtra-tall adjustable cane
Best for: Men whose wrist crease sits above 37 inches
Cleveland Clinic's half-your-height rule means a tall man may need a longer range than standard canes offer, and a cane that is too short makes you lean.
Watch out: Confirm the listed maximum height against your own measurement, not the product title.
See options on AmazonFixed-length wooden derby cane
Best for: Men who want a traditional walking stick look
Cleveland Clinic lists the derby among common handle types, and wood has no adjustment parts to loosen.
Watch out: The Arizona guide says wooden canes need careful fitting because their length is fixed; have it sized before cutting.
See options on AmazonCane with Fritz handle
Best for: Men who find a crook handle uncomfortable
Cleveland Clinic describes the Fritz, also called a crutch handle, as a slimmer, more tapered derby handle without the hook at the end, so it gives a different hold from a crook.
Watch out: Less common in folding designs.
See options on AmazonQuestions people ask
- What is a standard walking cane?
- Usually a single-point cane, wood or aluminum, with one rubber tip. The Arizona Center on Aging guide says it improves balance by widening your base but is not suited to heavy leaning.
- How tall should a man's cane be?
- Measure from the floor to your wrist crease in your shoes with arms relaxed. Cleveland Clinic says this is usually about half your height in shoes.
- What weight capacity do I need?
- Pick a cane rated above your body weight. Heavy-duty models exist; Drive Medical lists one folding cane at 500 lb.
- Is a wooden cane better than aluminum?
- Neither is better for everyone. Aluminum adjusts and often folds; wood has a fixed length and must be fitted carefully.
- Should I hold the cane on my bad side?
- No. Hold it in the hand opposite the weaker leg and move it forward with that leg.
Sources
- How To Use a Cane (my.clevelandclinic.org), Cleveland Clinic
- Elder Care: Canes (aging.arizona.edu), University of Arizona Center on Aging
- Aluminum Folding Canes, Height Adjustable (shop.drivemedical.com), Drive Medical (maker product page)
- Bariatric Aluminum Folding Cane, Height Adjustable (shop.drivemedical.com), Drive Medical (maker product page)
- Tips for choosing and using canes (mayoclinic.org), Mayo Clinic