A little cross country, anyone?

Rubber feet are probably best for bare concrete. You might want to switch to pointy or spiky metal ends if you are trying to keep your footing on icy sidewalks, but these will wear fast on pavement and concrete.

If you walk quickly, there are rocker ends for traction + speed. You can also get basket ends for the spike ends for better snow/ice traction. (I will use the larger basket ends for snowshoeing).

You might want to check with Hilton's Tent City by North Station - they have a good selection and their people are pretty good at helping.

This is a good question, though. Hiking poles can be useful for people with balance and mobility issues, or who are prone to falls in snow and ice.