Category: Daily Living
I've been using a high milage tip on my ambutech but am considering a
roller tip. My o and m teacher hates roller tips because they make you
lazy. Is that true?
I don't see how they could. When I used a cane, i always had a roller tip, and
I never found myself being lazy with it. It was faster and easier, so i could walk
farther without getting tired. I guess it would depend what is meant by lazy in
that instance.
Well she says that a roller tip does't give you as much feedback and
could cause you to miss out on certain textures on the ground.
I've used a roller tip and I don't think I missed out on anything significant texture-wise. To
answer your question, I use a light NFB folding cane with a metal tip. the sound of this tip
makes it easier for me to hear the shapes of obstacles the cane hasn't touched yet. The
lightness of the cane makes it as easy to use as an ordinary cane with a roller tip, at least
for me.
Ah, I've heard that before. I find it utterly useless. I've never felt the need to
know the texture of the concrete. Why in the world would I ever need to know
that? I can tell where the grass is if I'm using a branch I picked up, what else do
I need to know?
Good point! I know a lot of it has to do with the fact I don't use my cane
al to but my current tip is making my arm really sore. That is why I am
considering a roller tip.
I've used a roller tip ever since I entered Middle school. I adore them, they saved me from many drainage holes and what not. The pencil tip would get stuck and I couldn't walk fast enough. I feel a roller tip gives me that contact I need to speed walk. I don't understand the texture either, now crosswalks have bumps at their locations, there's texture you will need to know but the rolle tip picks it up beautifully. Just like any other tip will. Screw those NFB canes, they are tiresome, bothersome and break easily. I love my graphite, since I've not grown in the past few years, still have one from eighth grade. IT's been very faithful, though I do have a newer one that I've used recently. Either way, love roller tips and I highly suggest you get one. Fuck your instructor, it's what works for you.
I use my NFB cane, and they've improved them significantly. So love love love mine. Like others said, the echo and feedback is just better with it. And, I have never used a rolling tip. My VI teacher didn't let me for some reason.
Yes, fuck your instructor... Just don't get caught. I've never used a roler tip, but I'm beginning to consider it.
love them and lol
I use one of those marshmellow thingies. It's good for hitting people with.
I had rolling tips for a while but I found that gunk and dirt was always getting stuck under there. On reflection I didn't really feel that the rolling was much of an advantage.
I don't "use" my cane much aside from letting people know "blind man walkin", but I have two: One is a long CFB stiffy with a wierd stationary flat disk on the end. The other is a standard folder with a stationary marshmallow. Neither are very helpful if I actually feel like "using" it for its intended purpose.
As opposed to the unofficial purpose of clouting people about the limbs and maybe the head?
Rollers. I like the ceramic tips as well, they take longer to wear out.
I'm genuinely curious here. What exactly is it that you're getting feedback
about from these tips? I used canes for twenty years and never found any
feedback to be that helpful above here is grass there is poll, and I could get that
with a piece of PVC piping, and did more than once. I'm seriously lost, what
feedback do you guys mean when you say that the stationary tips give better
feedback?
Could be something about the sound the tip makes. I remember learning a route that included a couple rough patches in the sidewalk and my instructor said ok, when you get to that second rough section you know it's time to turn left.
Hmm, and the rolling canes don't do that? Interesting. I've never been in such
a situation, but I guess I can see how that would work in your favor.
Well, I use a marshmallow tip. I used to use the rolling ball tip but just didn't like it much. I'm used to the canetip I have right now which is the marshmallow tip.
I went out and bought a roller tip for my cane. Gonna give it a try for a
while.
I used a roller tip for awhile. I don't understand what your instructor means about them making you lazy. While in the end I decided I don't prefer the roller tip when compared to others, I don't feel that it ever made me lazy. In fact, it can be a great option for people who might have difficulty using touch technique because of mobility in their arm or wrist.
I find that I prefer either the flat metal tip like you'd find on NFB canes, or the ceramic tip that's shaped like a small ball. Or maybe it's more accurate to describe it as a half-ball, where the flat end is the part facing the cane, and the rounded part is what runs along the ground. I should note here that one need not use an NFB cane to use the flat metal tips. I don't like the current NFB canes. I use an Ambutech folding cane, and you can get the flat metal tips for those, too.
Cody, I'll try to explain the feedback idea, though I'm not sure how well I'll do. Sometimes I find the texture of concrete helpful. For example, some building entrances are done in bricks on the ground, and I found the roller tip doesn't pick up the difference between standard concrete and these brick patterns as sharply. Such brick patterns can also be found as one approaches some streets. If there's traffic, that's great, but if not, that texture difference can be helpful. The change in texture isn't always concrete to bricks, that's just the example I can think of most readily. The same applies indoors. Occasionally the floor may be done in different patterns or materials, which can be helpful landmarks when navigating. I prefer a cane tip that picks up those subtle texture differences, and in my own experience, a roller or marshmallow tip doesn't do that quite as well. But in the end, it's all about personal preference.
I don't understand how you are unable to find feedback with a roller tip. I used to have no trouble finding the brick pattern in front of this nail salon I used to go to with my cane and my feet. The cane picked it up very well.
Also, the touch technique is tiring, when I walk I don't want to think how tired my arm is. I want to find where I'm going
That's why you use your wrist, not your arm.
I always found the touch technique to be horrible for me. I prefer constant
contact with the ground for my cane so that I can know where, say, a crack in
the sidewalk is. I've seen way too many people who use touch trip over things
that they would have found if the cane had been touching the ground, but that's
probably just training and preference. As for texture, things like bricks and the
like, can you not feel that with your feet? At my college, all the crosswalks in
the city were done in bricks, I could always feel them with my feet. Blind friends
who wore high heels could feel them. Surely that's just as good, or am I missing
something?
Yeah, and tapping is annoying.
either way, screw touch technique. I'm with Cody on this one, constant is my preference.
I used to tap back when I could still hear the sound bounce off things like approaching buildings.
When I was at Criss Cole they wouldn't let us use folding canes because they thought those canes didn't provide enough feedback. I never noticed much of a difference.
Actually, that was the second reason I heard. The first was that thing about not hiding your blindness. When I pointed out how illogical that was, they gave the second reason.
Really, use whatever cane with whatever tip works for you. The cane is one of the most important devices you use. It can feel like a part of your body. It should be your choice.
Same thing at the nfb centers. It's horseshit. Rigid canes are just a fucking nuisance.
For you they are, Imp, but not for everyone. I find situations where my straight cane works best, others where my folding does. Same with techniques. There are times I use touch, times I use constant contact. Cody, I don't absolutely need the metal or ceramic tip to tell diffrences in texture, I just think it makes them more defined. Again, it's a preference thing. I'm certainly not going to tell someone who uses a different cane, tip, or technique that they're not doing it right.
A buddy of mine gave me one of those ceramic half ball tips today.
Gonna give it a shot. So far i'm loving my roller tip using constant
contact. I find that I can walk faster with it.
I had a ceramic tip one time. The noise of it hurt my teeth. it was like nails on a
chalkboard.
haha, that's exactly what I thought of when I used one.
That's my favorite thing about the rolling tip, good contact, allows me to walk faster and more assured.
The rolling tip makes your arm stronger, in my opinion. However, because someone thought trying to break both my wrists was a good idea, while he was drunk and taking pain pills, I can't use most canes, anymore. My cane is a well, like an NFB one that colapses, but the joints, links whatever they are, are more built up. My tip is a cork piece with a pingpong ball glued to it. It's not one that lasts long, but it works for me.
When you have nerve damage, you have to compensate.
God Bless,
Sarah
Sort of related to this topic, but I used to use these tips from Ambutech that had a light built into them. You could switch it on at night so you'd be more visible. They were available in all the usual shapes, of course with the addition of the light. I used to get them from Blind Mice though can't seem to find them anywhere anymore. Anyone know what I'm talking about?
That's sweet! I want a cane tip with a light built into it!!!
Anyway, as far as cane tips, I just ordered 2 new marshmellow tips.
I've used a roller tip before when I had to walk in a lot of sidewalkless areas. It worked great for rough terrain. The roller tip added significant weight to the tip of the cane though which took some getting used to.
Like others have said, I prefer constant contact with the ground. I was trained on touch technique and used to use it exclusively. However, with the nerve damage in my hands, now I use constant contact and like it.
I have different canes for different occasions. I was given an NFB ridged cane when I had mobility training several years ago. It came in handy during my recent move as somehow my folding canes got packed, or misplaced at the very least. lol I remembered quickly why I hate ridigid canes when we had to switch spots at a restaurant so I'd have a place to put it. Grrr. I do like it for extended walks though as it is very light weight and easy for my wrist.
I'd love to try a ceramic tip but not at $22 each. I'd never heard of those until yesterday when I was looking on Blindmicemart for tips.
Sounds like we all agree that the old school pencil tips suck. lmao I've had waaaaaay to many jabs to the tummy using one of those.
Man, I can't wait until I get my dog! lol
When I was in high school, I think around freshmen year perhaps a bit earlier,
I lived on a dirt road. Because of that, and the fact that winters where I lived
were absolute hell, I got what my mobility instructor called an apple tip. Mostly
because it was the size of an apple, maybe slightly smaller than a tennis ball. It
worked just like a roller tip, but that thing could roll over anything. It was good
for me, since I had no need of knowing those miniscule details about the ground
surface. It didn't matter if there was a tiny crack or anything, I wouldn't trip
over it even if I was walking without a cane. So I used that tip for the longest
time, until I moved away and didn't need it anymore.
My favorite tip, for constant contact, is the Teardrop tip that Revolution
canes have. They are very smooth and don't get caught much. The only
thing is, I use a ambutech now, so I have to make do with my roller tip. I
do love the roller though. Just miss my old Revolution sometimes.
I have various tips collection around. from pencil to marshmallow to the various size of the roling tip. My favourite so far is the roling tip, the large ball or the small ball. and yes, I do like to roles around, cause that is the speed that i'm comfortable with, and that is how I like to walk around with. I don't need to tap tap tap to let the world know that a blind person is coming through or passing by, and I don't need to know every auditory or tagtile feedback that is on the ground and on the surrounding. Like Cody, as long as I can differentiate between the grass, the building, the tile, the road etc etc i'm happy. In fact, with the roling tip I feel that it is better when I need to shore lining, say, the building, between the grass and the footpath etc. I would have thought in fact, the roling tip will give most constent tagtile feedback on the ground, as you can feel different texture very quickly using the roling tip than using other tip. It might not be the best with Echo location though, if that is what one mobility dependent on.
I agree, you should use the cane that works for you. I use a rigid and a folding nfb cane. I have rarely had my canes broken, and the rigid cane does conduct mor into the hand from the ground than the folding canes do, simply because you remove all of the parts of the cane that make it foldable. You have one path, from ground to hand, with no interuptions to degridate what your feeling, even if its only a small amount. As far as tap vs constant contact, I use a fusion of the two, and it seems to work well for me. Some people that I show like it, some don't. So its like tapping, in that your still slightly lifting your tip from the ground over the cource of your arc, but when you contact the ground again, try sliding your cane just a little bit. Responding to the comment of the tapping being annoying, I would like to give every tap style user a small bit of advice that may help you when your trying to be quiet. I find this harder with the metal canes, but when you lift your cane from the ground, practice holding it as close to the ground as you can. When you put it back down, it has less distance to travel, so even if you don't resist with your hand, it will still land softly. its even quieter if you put in just a tiny bit of resistance though, I can sneak around with my cane using this. I remember someone saying that using the cane made them tired, or hurt the wrist, or something... too lasy to go look. but I am not sure if this works with all canes, but I place my cane between my thumb and pointer, and just use my other fingers and thumb to move it side to side. My wrist doesn't move in this way, and I can do this for hours. anyway, enjoy.
Are their any tips that glow in the dark?
From elementary through high school, I used a folding cane with a marshmellow tip. I hated them both, from the instant they were put into my hand--they were probably why I couldn't stand to use a cane, and why I never had good cane skills till I saw a straight NFB cane for the first time. I always found using the marshmellow tip would cause me to have frequent encounters jabbing me in the stomach.
To this day I use a straight NFB cane with a metal tip. Like many here, I find it helpful to be able to feel the different texture changes and such that I encounter. I also like that it's very lightweight. Constant contact is the only technique I use--someone else hit the nail on the head when they said they don't wanna spend time thinking about how much their arm hurts if they were to use the touch tap method.
I am using an nfb cane, but it has been changed and better balanced. I had someone take a spent rifle shell, drill it out a bit, and press fit it onto the end of my cane. it helps balance it a bit better, and my cane tip has never, ever come off of that thing, ever. Call it corny, but I also took some duct tape with multi colored designes on it and covered my cane with it. I don't use that one much, but if I know I am going to be walking a lot, its a life saver.
I have two canes, a folding one with a teardrop shaped tip and a telescoping one with the metal tip. I can use both pretty well, use the folding when I know there's a chance that it could get caught in drains or the like. I use a combo of constant contact and tap as well, but it's a very gentle tap. Most people don't even realize that I'm tapping at all.
my way is almost the same. I like being very quiet with my cane, very light touches on everything.
I'll probably not go back to metal tips.
Feedback is also good for hearing a building nearby or something. I believe that Alicia explained it pretty well.
I gave the ceramic tip a shot yesterday when I went to the grocery store.
Nope. No Thank You. Back goes the roller tip.
Again, I've never had an issue echo locating with any old tip I had. Maybe the
whole idea of feedback is just something I don't understand. For me, a simple
snap of my fingers can tell me all I need to know about echo location.
Well interesting hearing about the different types of cane tips though i have used a marshmallow that doesn't roll, a disk, a different range of rolling tips, the pencil tip and the big rolling balls but yet they don't last for me and i am using constant contact with the ground because i can not do the tapping technique as i don't get the feedback i need which meaning knowing the different bumps and cracks on the footpath and when on the road having to know where holes are and where the edge is so i don't fall down a cliff and my cane is a ambutech folding one and I've also used a ridged one and i must agree those ones can be a hassle especially when your out in a restaurant as you have to find a place near a wall to lean it against though most of the time i would lay it on the floor but still it would be in the way of people's feet and i love the folding one, smiles.
I've not used a metal one and i wonder do they last long? i have an issue of my tips wearing down quite quickly at times because i'm frequently using my cane and even used it when walking real long distances.
I'm quite a fast pace walker with my cane and also use my feet to feel where i'm going and feel the information i need to know from the vibration of the noise my cane is making while having my index finger on the grip and feel what is on the ground as of not being able to see what is on the ground the cane is a great deal of help with that so i am able to be quick and makes me confident when out and about, smiles.
Oh how clever you are able to use echo location which not every one can do so sounds like your pretty talented, smiles.
Slightly unrelated, but I had to toss my 69 inch carbon fiber cane recently. It was super old and beginning to split and splinter and the end was so worn that a tip wouldn't even fit anymore. Soooo, graffite cane it is.
Loves animals the metal tips do wear out fairly quickly but they are also fairly inexpensive. I see
you are in New Zealand and found a local site that sells them for $5
https://blindfoundation.org.nz/how-we-can-help/shop/canes-and-accessories/accessories/metal-
glide-tip-hook-style/ pretty sure this is for the Ambutech, so it would not cost a lot to try and see if
you like it or not.
Here in the US we get the NFB-style metal tips (used on NFB canes) for $2 each. The NZ site
lists them for $7 each, probably because of the import cost.
Ouch, carbon fiber hurts if you poke yourself with it. It's like splinters.
I got a graffite cane from ILA and I relaly like it so far.
nj that is the site i use to get my cane tips from and may have a look at the one you mentioned at let you know how it goes if i decide to try it out, smiles.
I hope people don't mind me bringing this up here, but I'm trying to figure out what kind of folding cane I should get. Cause, the more I use the NFB straight cane, the more I can't stand it. So, for anyone using graphite canes from Ambutech, are they light weight? I've heard mixed answers, so I'm not sure. If they aren't light weight, could people tell me what they've found works best for them, along with which cane tips?
Thanks.
My graffite Ambutech cane is relatively light weight. The only other cane I've ever had that was lighter in weight was a fiber glass folding cane from California Canes. I do not recommend that particular cane if it is even still made. The joints began to splinter and cut my hands.
I have a marshmellow tip on my current graffite cane which does make it a bit heavier than a standard tip would. It's worth it though because of all the uneven ground I cover. One of the other things I really like about this cane is that it folds into 6 sections.
It took about 3 weeks to get it from ILA because they were out of stock so that could be a problem if you're in a hurry.
Nothing is going to be as light as the NFB rigid cane but nothing could be less convenient either. *smile*
chelslicious, if you like the NFB cane tip style (either the metal or the nylon they sell) but don't like
that it doesn't fold, get the carbon fiber folding or the carbon fiber telescoping. They are very
lightweight.
If you don't like the NFB cane tips at all or dislike something else, in my opinion the ambutech
graphite is the next best option. It is heavier than NFB, but also much lighter than the old style
aluminum canes. The smaller tips (pencil tip, ceramic tip, metal glide tip) will weigh the least
probably. The jumbo roller tip is very heavy.
i have a ambutech light weight folding cane with a roller ball tip which is fairly light but yes the jumbo roller tip can make the cane feel heavier though i like how it folds as it makes it convenient for when traveling in the car, smiles.
Thanks for the help guys, it's much appreciated. I hadn't really thought about whether I like the metal tip that's on the NFB cane, but I don't dislike it, the way I do the rigid cane itself. Mainly, I'm looking for a folding cane that will serve me well when I'm walking long distances (I don't even know if that matters) but I thought I'd mention it. Another reason I want a folding cane, is cause of the obvious benefit of being able to store it easily, and period. A folding cane can be put out of yours/everyone else's way; a rigid cane cannot be.
chelslicious if you want something lightweight and are okay with the NFB tip, I would definitely
personally either buy the telescoping cane https://ecommerce.nfb.org/asp/product.asp?
product=7&cat=1&ph=&keywords=&recor=&SearchFor=&PT_ID= or the folding cane
https://ecommerce.nfb.org/asp/product.asp?
product=978&cat=1&ph=&keywords=&recor=&SearchFor=&PT_ID=
with the telescoping cane, if you haven't used one before, you must take care to twist each tube
where it contacts the other tube as you pull it out. This will stop it from collapsing when you don't
want it to as the joints will be stuck firmly in place.
Only if I didn't like one of those would I consider going to the Ambutech Graphite. They seem
lighter, more compact, and the cost of replacement tips is lower.
I much prefer the graffite telescoping canes myself because once you twist the joints tight they lock in place, which also means you can shortin or lengthen the cane to some degree.
unfortunately they don't make canes for people whom walk long distances or tips that will last either that is why they have to be replaced or brought in bulk though that may be quite a cost for some but that is the case for us active cane users.
.
I believe NFB sells folding canes that are not the telescoping one.
The new graduated design for the telescoping one makes it pretty nice. I got one in 2013 and I do like it quite a bit.
NfB does sell folding canes. They're made of a combination of carbon fiber and fiber glass. I personally don't like them, but a lot of people do, and they are extremely light-weight, no question about that. If you're looking for a light-weight folding cane, that's probably the lightest out there.
I personally like my Ambutech graphite for a folding cane. No, it's not as light as the NFB canes, but it's lighter than some of the other folding ones I've used. Like someone else said, I definitely wouldn't get a California cane, or whatever that company is called now. They splinter like crazy.
I've always wanted to try a telescoping cane. I think I'll order one to have as a backup to give it a try.
So the trick with the telescoping ones:
If it starts to collapse, I quickly draw it between my feet, hold the tip with a foot or both feet, pull straight up and if need be adjust the top joint and carry on.
I only take that one when I'm going somewhere where I'm gonna sit down, like the bar or a meetup or something. If I'm just out, going to the store or something, I use my somewhat longer straight one from the NFB which I got in 2013.
I'm surprised people like the telescoping canes--I've used them before, and hated them with a passion.
Thanks for the feedback though; if I'm not able to go to my local Lighthouse and try out different canes, I'll probably get the carbon fiber folding cane that people here have spoken so highly of.
I'm with chelsea, I've never had good results with the telescoping canes. I've
had two, and I love the lightness and size of them, but that's all. They don't
stay open, and they snap very very easily in my experience. The joints just
aren't that sturdy.
That's exactly my experience Cody. They just are not good canes to use when you're out in public. Maybe they'd be good to use as a demonstration cane, to show people how canes are used, but even then, I wouldn't recommend it because of how flimsy and unrealistic they are to a sturdier cane.
Hmm, hearing y'all's reviews, and knowing how hard I am on canes, perhaps I'll wait on the telescoping. lol I tent to walk like a bat out of hell so I need a stirdy cane.
I use a rolling tip.
I'm just afraid of the roller thingy flying off one day without warning when I'm out somewhere.
I've used a roller tip before, and never had anything like that happen. The very end of the tip rolls back and forth, but its connection to the cane itself fits as snug as any other tip.
What would be really cool is a totally spherical roller tip. Just can't see how that would fit on the cane, though.
I use a roller tip too.
How funny, Imp, I was thinking that very same thing the other day and trying to figure out a way it could work. I'm no engineer though so will leave that for those who are smarter than I . lol
I guess maybe if there was a half ring around the ball to hold it in place like a globe.
There is a spherical tip. Its not entirely spherical, since one small section is
flattened out to allow for the ball bearing and attachment to the cane, but it is
mostly spherical.
I could be wrong here, but I believe I read a medical study once where it suggests that using a roller tip, particularly if it ends up resulting in a fairly heavy cane, is much worse for your wrist because it's constantly dragging it down and bending it in a way that's not entirely natural.
That said, I've used a roller tip, and it's pretty useful. I prefer a smaller marshmallow or pencil tip though, and generally usse touch technique when I don't have to care about tactile feedback a whole lot. I mean seriously; have you ever tried using touch and drag or constant contact in freaking grass or pea gravel? Pain in the ass.
The cane I have is a regular old folding one. I used a straight cane when I was very, very young, and I hated it. I can't see any advantage whatsoever of a straight cane, honestly, and to me at least, the ability to fold up a cane and shove it out of the way is one of the things I like about it as a tool. To hell with this "hiding your blindness" bullshit; I'm not folding my cane because I'm hiding my blindness, I'm folding it so it doesn't skewer someone or fall over or get in the way. I'm not ashamed to be blind, as it's not my fault and there's nothing I can do about it. There are people out there who want their blindness to be as un-obvious as possible, people who would deliberately hide the cane wherever possible for that reason. I'm not one of those people. And no, this doesn't mean I rock constantly, eye-poke, head-wag or do any other weird blindism-type stuff in public most of the time. It just means that my reason for wanting a cane that folds has nothing to do with shame.
Cody, I'm mostly with you and Jodeci here regarding feedback. I was lucky, in that i received good orientation and mobility training as a child. I was taught how to locate landmarks, and I quickly learned how to judge echoes and the like. My cane makes more than enough noise for this, enough so that the type of tip I use won't screw with my ability to perceive what's around me. It's a matter both of being aware and caring what you hear, and it's not an innate skill.
Oh, and one last thing. Really light whippy canes may be great for your wrist because they're light and won't drag on it, but they're hell in crowds. I've got a fairly firm grip, and I've had my cane pop out of my hand and go flying when someone steps on it, trips on it, or occasionally if it jams in a crack or something. This would go double for something lightet. To be honest though, I suppose I'd have to play with a lighter cane in order to see how much difference it made; the experience I do have is pretty limited.
Oh, and I missed something from way way back.
Cody, way back in like post 5 or something, you said something about never needing to know the texture of concrete. Okay, in general I agree with you, but in my own personal experience at least, I can't count the number of times where the texture of concrete, or some sort of flaw in it or something, has turned into a landmark. When I used to walk to my high school, I eventually had to turn left down an intersecting sidewalk to hit the little set of stairs which led down to where the school was. It eventually got to a point where I knew when the stairs were coming up, but for the first longish while I used constant contact because about three feet from the stairs there was an inexplicable rough patch, irregular in shape and entirely unplanned I'm sure. It told me that the stairs were coming.
Also, in the college I used to go to, there were minute differences in floor tiles in certain wings, which constant contact would pick up while touch technique didn't. I suppose scuffing my feet may have given me a clue, but constant contact was an immediate and obvious signal. "Okay, the floor tiles changed, you're in a new wing now." And when you're dealing with a college that's basically one great big sprawling building with wings sorta added on willy-nilly, that's dead handy to know.
So yeah. Texture of concrete or flooring or whatnot can be a really excellent landmark, and sometimes the differences are subtle enough that your feet aren't going to notice them unless you're shuffling.
That's what annoyed me about CCB. I had this big-ass pole almost as tall as me. Got lectured once when I bought a telescoping cane to take on plane trips with me. I was like oh fuck off. I alternate between my folding cane and the much lighter graffite telescoping cane with is somewhat adjustable, since you can lock it in place at a given length.
I suppose I can see the logic of that Greg. I do think those are exceptionally
rare circumstances, but I see the logic in it.
Nah, they're not as rare as you might think. I use tiny and seemingly inconsequential details for route-mapping and the like all the damn time. They aren't always viable, but I like knowing they're there. It's also useful in the sense that you might have two or three different cues for something, and a change in ground is only one of them...so if you're a goof one day and miss one cue, then another one might save your ass.
I don't see why you couldn't, create a fitting on the end that resembles the housing for a trackball or mouse ball. The ball and fitting would come off in one piece when it's time for a replacement. Then you get the three-dimensionality of a complete sphere rolling against the ground.
Rolling ball tip is the only way to go. Graphite canes are by far stronger than aluminum, don't let the fact that it is aluminum fool you, split mine in half....they're built like tin cans. NFB swizzle sticks are probably the worst thing to use if you power along the street. Get that thing stuck with their shitty ass metal glide tip in a crack and there goes your cane, all your body weight will just bend and snap that cane in half, done it numerous times only because the nfb nazis at the center in Mississippi forced us to do it for all the bullshit reasons your instructor proposed. It's all bullshit. And yeah, I've heard the "folding canes means you hide your blindness" line. Not using 2 point makes you lazy? Hell, they should be happy you're actually out and about doing things. Glide tip, what a joke all it does is get stuck. Then it gets sharp and rips up carpet fibers. And the grip on it? Don't use it in the summer time, the grip is slick slippery rubber. Now I find it horseshit that Ambutech forces you to spend at least $50 to get just one cane, but Ambutech's website is the only site that you can have your canes custom designed and you can select what grip you want be it wood, cork, or rubber golf grip. Yeah, I know you can get canes from other sites, but you're going to be paying at least $40 for a good cane anyway, so why not buy 2 of them with your exact specs from Ambutech directly. Then there's this kustom cane website or whatever and they charge like $100 plus for the same shit ambutech offers them, just another blindie trying to rip other blind folks off so beware of this scam.
By the way who the hell would use a cane that can collapse at any time? Hit a curb a little too hard because you're trying to power across a street and oops. Yeah ok, makes sense to me. I don't like the conical joints on the new ambutech canes, they wiggle loose as I'm walking and have to stop and tap the cane on the ground forcefully for the joints to become stiff again. Why don't they slide in and out of each other like the old days?
haha this is still a thing, huh? haha. I've stuck to the roller tip. I tried going
back to the high milage tip on my ambutech but my arm got pretty tired fast.
The roller tip also gives me a bit of speed when walking.
Ok, let's move to the other end of the cane. What kind of grip does everyone like? I hate hate hate the grip on my NFB straight cane, who's metal glide tip broke off about a half mile from my house the other day. lol That cane is toast now. :) I didn't like that grip because like someone else said, it's way to slippery when my hands get sweaty. No, I don't generally have gross sweaty hands but I do live in Texas, so yeah, maybe I do after a long walk. lol
I don't really like the golf grips either but since I haven't been able to find anything else, that's what I use. I used to have a cane made by LS&S group, or at least sold by them, in the mid 90s. It had a bicycle grip. That's what they called it. It was a hard, yet slightly giving, grip with little holes indented in it. It was red if that makes a difference to anyone who might know what I'm talking about.
I think what I'd really really like to try would be a grip like my son's bike handlebar has. It's made of soft rubber bands that wrap around a firm core. I'm not sure how else to explain it but it seems like it would be very comfy. Perhaps I should check out Ambutech again since they apparently have different grips. Cork? What's that like on a cane?
Cork I believe feels like the spungy foam material I've seen on some straight canes.
If you're concerned about feeling vibrations as you use the cane, a grip material like cork or foam rubber might not be the best choice. I recall those hard plastic bicycle grips with the holes; they help with the sweaty hands. I'm ok with the hard rubber golf grip on my graphite canes from Revolution.
I've begun holding the rubber golf club grips with my thumb on the flat side. Just feels more secure that way.
Oh, I had a cane with that red grip once, too, and I liked it so much better! If anyone knows what it is and where to get one...
I hold my Ambutech with my index finger running along the flat side. It helps with the security of my grip, and the control over my technique. To each their own, but I personally have never had an NFB cane tip get that stuck in the sidewalk, and certainly never had one break in half because of my body weight slamming against it. I should add to that I'm a pretty fast walker. Maybe it just depends on one's physical build, and how you're carrying your body? No idea. The circumstances in posts 86 and 87 just seem a little...extreme.
Also, I hold the cane almost parallel to my left hip. I get long enough canes that I don't need to center them.
I've recently gone back to my Revolution cane with a tear drop tip. This
cane got me through tough and broken LA streets. I still occasionally use
my ambutech with a roller tip, but not as often. The Revolution cane is
significantly lighter than the ambutech.
Few things here:
1. I've definitely had the slippery-hands-on-rubber-cane-grip thing. One of the first things I was taught was how to establish a firm grip. Most of the times the cane has popped loose is when my hands aren't slick. This is obviously a case of YMMV, but for me at least, I'm fine with the grip mine's got.
2. Centering a cane is important for balance reasons as well as for protection. If you've got it lined up with one hip or the other, then unless you naturally bend your wrist far further to the other side, your cane won't really be able to cover what's in front of your off side. If it's a really long cane, the problem might be magnified actually, depending on the type of obstacle. Even if you do cover your off side, though, you're forcing your wrist to bend much more than it otherwise would, which is a really excellent way to end up with RSI down the road.
3. Index finger along the flat side gives you more control and lets your finger help with some of the pressure in flicking the cane back and forth. I'll be the last one to stomp in here and say "Uh, you're an idiot, you're doing it wrong", but there are often sound reasons for the way they suggest stuff.
My cane is getting toward the end of its life and I'm gonna need a new one. Customizable, eh? I'll have to look that up.
How long does your cane or the cane tip last? For me, with the rolling tip, it lasted about 6
to 12 months, before i need to replace it again. What about others?
I just got a new Revolution cane with a roller tip and love it. It is
significantly lighter than my ambutech and is easier to control. The
ambutech would start to stain my wrist/arm after long walks. This thing
light, sturdy and don't cause any strain. Glad I switched back to a
revolution cane.
I don't think i've ever really worn out a tip. The tip on my oldest cane is
definitely worn down but still very usable. Canes lasting me is another
story. I usually have to replace a cane every 10 - 12 months. I always
end up bending it at some point.
I think depends on what your daily activities as to how fast you need to change the tip.
For me, i usually walks anywhere between 3 to 5 miles a day, (unless I'm visiting my
family).
Also, with the hand strain, from what i got told, that can also cause by wrong cane technic
as well.
I guess, what is important is to have a cane that suits the needs of the individual, and by
trying different cane out, you will have the feeling of what suits you the best.
if you have hand issues, your cane is putting too much strain on your wrist. I don't know if you can use these with the old style canes, but try open palm. it works but you have to have a lighter cane to do it, and no, its not designed for canes made of mettle
What is the open palm technique?
Its holding the cane in an open palm and controling it with your fingers. Its
great if you have a really light cane and walk really slowly. Does not work for
people like me who walk quickly.