This pair of Silent Spikes are designed to work with Nordic walking poles as they have an angled impact surface. The multiple mini carbide tips grip really well on most surfaces & the rubber compound gives additional grip on really smooth surfaces like tarmac. Because of the multiple mini carbide tips they work equally well on loose & muddy surfaces. I use these on Trekking poles & love them because they get rid of the really annoying tip-tapping noise the uncovered tips make on hard surfaces. Sold in pairs.