sweet - so I just rip that whole thing off? Suppose I got nothing to lose
Time to head over to REI with the poles and see if the Leki tips fit.
Do you have a vise? If so, put the pole in a vise between a couple of pieces of wood (so you won't mar the poles). Take a pair of pliers, and expand them so they will fit loosely around the pole just above the tips, but not tight enough to actually grip the pole. Then, take a hammer and gently tap both sides of the pliers, and the tip should pop off. Put on a new one, and again - use a block of wood between the tip of the pole and the hammer. The carbide tips are strong, but a bit brittle.
You can do the job without a vise, but it requires a bit of dexterity. Pliers around pole (just above the tip) always seem to work regardless.
