Seeking Recommendations for a Beginner Cane

Hello, I assume you noticed the post next to your on AppleVis all about canes? https://applevis.com/forum/assistive-technology/canes
Honestly I've never really considered beginner or advanced canes. They are all very much alike and it is all about technique. If anything I'd suggest considering how much weight you care to swing around. Other than that I was taught length is the next important thing. With preferences all over the place. I'd suggest choosing something from mid chest to nose height depending on how comfortable you are. Over time maybe try a few lenghts, and even material types to see what works for you. There is not one right answer and don't let some pushy instructor convince you otherwise.

I agree with everything above, but I would add a 3rd consideration to go with weight and length. That would be your sense of tactile sensation. It has not been discussed much here, or at all, with regards to cane use, but the less you have of tactile sensation, the more difficult a light cane will work for you versus a cane with a bit more weight to it.

Just food for thought. 🙂

Honestly for starting out the best thing you can do is get one of the free NFB canes. They're rigid and don't fold up, but they provide good feedback and are lightweight. You want something that comes up to your chin or nose in terms of length. Some states have other free cane programs too but this one is pretty much everywhere. And check out the book The Care and Feeding of the Long White Cane. It's available free to read online and will tell you the basics (which haven't changed much over the decades because they really don't need to).

I live in a hot desert. The elastic cords inside folding canes dry up and stretch out more quickly. Just something to keep in mind. I've never had anything melt, but you never know...
Make completely sure you are getting a cane for blind people. There are walking canes that are much too short, and will do almost nothing for mobility. Beyond that, I don't know, but do read the cane thread Travis Roth linked to in his post.

While I agree that it would be an ideal starter cane, the NFB does not distribute their namesake cane outside of the US and its territories. ☹

Wow I was don't even aware of such books existing. Nice old reading!

I had a read of this today (thanks for sharing). Apologies if this is going slightly off-topic but one thing I noticed was that he was basically saying to use the 2 point technique I think and seemed to think that the direct contact was a bad way to do things. Whereas the latter is all I was taught. Is this just because it is an old book and things have moved on? Or is it just that some people sit on one side of the fence or other? Or have I been taught the wrong thing?

You have not been taught wrong, necessarily. You touched upon the issue in your last comment, which is to say people are on different sides of the fence about cane technique. I am not sure where you live in this wacky wide world of ours, but if you are in the United States, you may know all about the NFB, which is the National Federation of the Blind. They have a (particular) way of doing things, and in an attempt not to piss off any of their cultists amongst us; I will just say that in their eyes, there are only 2 ways, their way, and the wrong way.

I too was taught constant contact with a rollerball tipped Ambutech cane outside of a training facility for the blind, and then again the 2 point touch once inside. The sad thing is, I only ever do well with constant contact due to a severe lack of tactile sensation in my fingertips.

So, for what its worth, go with what works for you, and damn anyone who says any different. 😇

OK, thanks that's interesting. I live in the UK so don't know much about NFB. So, does that mean more Americans use 2-point if that's their thing?

I mainly ask because I'm not hugely skilled with a cane and other than improvising when I find myself in the wrong terrain for my cane, I don't know 2 point.

I've said this in another thread, but I really need to get some more training. I just haven't quite decided exactly what I need out of it yet.

I would say, many, do. There is a division here, or opposite sides of the fence, as you put it. 2 point touch takes a little practice, as there is a rhythm to it. And of course, there are subtle differences based on people's education, but it basically goes like this:
1. Hold the grip as you would a golf club, etc. Keep your index finger extended. The cane itself is essentially an extension of said finger.
2. Some will say keep your wrist pointing towards the ground. Some will say have your wrist pointing to the sky. Personally, I keep my wrist on the inside, kind of like if you were to reach out to shake someones hand. (hope that makes sense). Because of how I perform this technique, my index finger assists me with swinging the cane back and forth, so its not, all, in the wrist.
3, Now comes the rhythm; Which ever foot you take your first step with, and trust me it does not matter, swing your cane in the opposite direction. In other words, step with left foot as you swing your cane to the right, and vice versa.
4. That is pretty much it. The basics of 2 point touch cane technique.

now, let us all sit back and listen as many people jump on here and tell me how wrong I am. 😈

**Edit**
I forgot to mention, this is meant to be done with a lightweight cane. Do not do this with a rollerball tipped cane, unless you are a closet masochist.

What works best for you and all. I wouldn't limit myself to only trying a single technique. There weren't roller tips that I know of when I learned, mainly nylon, pencil tips and the metal disks on NFB fiberglass. Two touch works better, or gets stuck less, with those types of tips. Rather than constant touch, I sometimes use constant, non-contact in some situations where I am familiar with the terrain, and I have even been known to hold the cane vertically and at head level or inverted and sticking up in the air, depending on what I'm looking for or trying to avoid: tree branches, window air conditioners and such. I use every technique I have learned or even made up, that works for me, in appropriate situations, and the cane can become like a peripersonal extension that you just use without thinking about using.

I think you two are quite right.

At the risk of repeating my waffle from the other cane thread, I have been struggling to find the right cane plus tip combination for every terrain I come across. And maybe the problem is more the workman than the tool in this case. For example, I couldn’t use the ceramic tip on grass, but if I was doing two point then I probably would be fine. I think I find the 2 point seems like a lot of work likely because I’m not used to it, or maybe because my technique is poor.

Anyway sorry if I’m hijacking this thread but I appreciate the opinions - Brian, I will try to keep your notes on 2 point in mind next time and maybe try practising it.
So are we agreed that the answer to the original question here is that it matters a lot less about what type of cane you get and more about what you do with it? I think the tip matters more. And maybe once you start getting to grips with it you may find you want something lighter, or more durable or more portable o whatever, but maybe that comes later. And your starting cane can easily become your spare cane.

Since this particular thread was asking for advice for a beginner cane, as in the OPs first cane, I would say start out with something that, if it breaks, you won't feel so bad, as opposed to a $70+ Ambutech cane with a ceramic tip, that is more or less what they go for here in the States, at least.

On the other hand, Mr Grieves, yes it matters more on how you use your cane, than what type of cane you have. Again, there is a division here, as some will stand by one type or another.

Final thoughts, go with what feels best to you and damn anyone who says otherwise. After all, they are not you, they are not guiding you anywhere. So get what you want, and want what you get.

I currently have 2 canes, but have had, many, over the years. One I have I do not think they make anymore, that is an "Iowa Cane", and the other is an NFB cane. The former is kind of like the NFB cane, in principal, in that it is solid white, with a metal disk shaped tip. It is far, far sturdier than a NFB cane though. Sturdy like getting wacked with it does not feel good.

I also used to have a folding version of the Iowa Cane, but alas, it got caught in a car door once, and never lived to tell the tale. 😳

Just wanted to say thanks for all the comments both on here and on the canes thread (in particular Magic Retina, Brian and old bear). I was thinking about the description of the 2 point technique and it occurred to me that my particular technique is to just furiously swing the cane left and right in front of me as fast as I can and hope that it hits the bollard not my knee. I'd never really thought about it but I have no rhythm at all. So the last few days I've been trying to make a conscious effort to swing the cane in time with my legs as described. Most of the time with constant touch, but then when I've found myself on grass or somewhere the ceramic tip isn't happy, then switching to 2-point. And actually I'm feeling a lot more confident than before. It feels like I may have turned a corner, so thanks very much to everyone who helped point me in the right direction.

I can't remember if I was ever taught rhythm - I don't remember it but then I had training just before covid before I really needed a cane and it was a good year or so after that I started using it. And honestly those first couple of sessions were quite hard from an emotional point of view. Like I'd just crossed the line from being partially sighted to being blind and it wasn't easy to accept.

Again apologies to the OP for the tangent.

This is how I learned. I never was shown a roller cane, not sure if they didn't exist or my instructors were opposed and took the easy way out of just not sharing. This was before the Internet. The Internet makes us so much more dangerous students now haha.
Brian's description of two-point touch seems pretty good. So hey Brian I agree with you. The real key is the tap per step and the opposite side. The concept is the cane is tapping where your next step will land.
The addition I would add is I was taught two grips; the golf style grip as Brian described, and a pencil grip. This may be in part because I was taught with the long NFB cane, so pencil grip for this length gives more precise control. It shortens up the swing. I was then told golf grip for outside at speed, and pencil grip inside. As it happens, I prefer the control of pencil grip even outside a lot of the time. Oh also the techniques of either grip call for holding the cane centered to your body. Now I tend to hold the cane more to the side but as long as the cane lands and reads where your foot is going it is fine.

For my use case, I tend to do pencil grip indoors. Especially when dealing with funky carpeting. 😳

Glad you're getting the gist of it. You probably would wear yourself out swinging it fast like that.