There are four main component parts to a walking stick or cane – the handle, the collar, the shaft and the ferrule. All of these components are important, but the ferrule is definitely one of the most important – and is often the most overlooked. The ferrule (the rubber or metal part on the bottom of the walking stick or cane) is important because it is the piece that always comes into contact with the ground and it serves a vital role in protecting your stick, but also in improving the grip delivered by your walking stick so that you can be as stable as possible. The materials used for the ferrules include rubber, bone, metals, ivory and horn. In days gone by, the ferrules were actually fairly long, up to as much as eight inches long in some cases. They were made of brass and decorated with ornate designs. It wasn’t until the late 1800’s when the ferrules started to become shorter in length. The materials used to fashion ferrules were also changing. For instance, silver and nickel was introduced as the metal of choice in the 19th and 20th centuries and this was mainly due to the fact that ferrules were now being mass-produced. This also meant that the shape and size of the ferrules also started to become more uniform. Nowadays, most ferrules are made out of rubber. It’s amazing that with all the new technology in the world, no-one has ever improved the simple rubber ferrule. That’s why FlexyFoot are so excited about the launch of their new replacement ferrule for walking sticks and walking canes. Using our patented technology, we have evolved the walking stick ferrule and brought it into the 21st Century. The FlexyFoot walking stick ferrule offers superior grip, increased comfort and stability. To learn more about FlexyFoot, click on this link: FlexyFoot Walking Stick Ferrules