Category: Daily Living
hmm, well, the problem is... i do need a new cane. the one I have is geting short.i'm thinking about either teliscopic canes or graphite folding canes. the teliscopics either are made of carbon fiber (which can break easily at times) or fiberglass which I don't know that much about... but I like them because there lighter and take up les space than the folding canes, plus the joints on folding canes get all fucked up and you can't fold and unfold it that well (like mine is now... is this only true of the iluminum canes or of the graphite as well? Anyone have any ideas? thought of something I haven't?
oh, yeh. as far as the teliscopic canes go, the only kind of tips I've been able to find for them are those metal ones. are there surtain styles of canes or tips that are ment for different styles of use spasificly?
I don't really like touch techneek instead prefurring constant contact.
Any ideas on propper length particularly with those metal tips, because I've never used them?
thanks
Hi, I do like the telescopic ones myself. They're sleeker, and as you've said lighter. Because of the design of the cane, I'm not sure if there are different tips to work with these other than those flat metal ones. You could try going to websites like MaxiAids or other sites which specialize in blind products. I'm thinking I did see a rolling tip on a telescopic cane, but I'm not sure on that. I like the streamlined feel. I do hear that carbon fiber breaks easily, but I'm not that hard on canes. If your other cane is sticking, use a little petroleum jelly on the joints if you haven't already. HTH.
For constant touch, light weight, reliability, and portability, may I suggest the graphite folding cane. I have never had a problem with sticky joints or breaking elastics with the graphite folding cane. There is a roler tip available for the graphite cane, which makes it good for constant-touch technique. Cobble-stone and brick surfaces are horrible without the roler.
HTH,
Dave
personally, i have always found grafite vary inflexable & not shock resistent. i avoid them at all costs & have an aluminium cane. i also like telescopic canes, & yes they do have rolar tips as well as jumber rolars & tap tips.
for cane length, the trick is to have one that, when it is upright, and between your feet, the top of the cane should be in the middle of your breastbone. as for types of cane, try the ambutek folding sticks, very good, robust and will last forever. they have roller tips, and can take a beating.
I think the grafite ones are better than the alliminium ones, because the alliminium ones are always really hard to fold and the elastic breaks. you can get other tips for the telescopic canes.
*drops his 2 cents in the bucket*
I have used folding canes, both Aluminum and graphite. The strings tend to break and the joints on the graphite broke. I currently use a straight aluminum cane with a shepard hook on it. I like it for it's durability and it's weight, not too light, not too heavy. However there are times when I like to use a telescoping cane for when I go to a restaurant or the movies, and other places where collapsing it is better. The lenght could be to the sternum, your armpit, whatever feels better. I'd say trial and error works best and this is not a one size fits all thing. So experiment and happy mobility.
lol striky piky, you can always go for those vibrating ones. roflmao, serves for other purposes as welll as traveling. :PPP. sorry, had to say that
Well, personally, i love the graphite ones, i think they're more flexible than the alluminum ones. The alluminum always breaks and they're so hard to collapse and everything. And, I like constant contact too, but i don't like the roller tips, I don't know why, but they've never worked with me. And ... telescopic canes? I never hard of them, so can't tell you about them. But, seriosuly, I say go for the graphite ones. And like TOm said, try as much of them as you can before deciding, what works the best the for you. lol
my graphite took a chunk out of my finger 3 times today when the joints snapped back shut on me when i was folding it up.
im thinking of a telescopic next time because i have trouble folding canes cos of other condition i have and i thought id be fine with the graphite cos its suppose to be easier to fold but im still loosing my fingers slowerly.
how small do the telescopic ones go? they arent like those idiot telescopic symbol canes are they which disapear into themselves constantly.
I was actually justabout to post a similar question in a new thread so am glad I found this. I'm also looking for a telescopic cane that is light-weight and doesn't collapse. One of my main problems when I used a telescopic cane years ago was the minute I hit a bump, it would close. I'm hoping things have changed by now or I'll have to stick with my folding ones. I'm glad that some use a roller tip cause I'm not into touch technique either and I find the flat tips to be annoying cause they get in the road. That said, if there's a different kind of tip that can easily glide, I'll consider it. As for length, I'm about 5 ft. 1 or 2 in. (. I say that cause Mom said I actually grew an inch. Anyway, I'm looking for a cane that's no larger than 23 inches (58 cm) when closed, though smaller is ideal. (One of the main reasons I'm buying telescopic is compact size for carrying. Another is not having to deal with it flying open or breaking the rubber band and not being able to properly close it as some of you so wisely pointed out. I'd love it if it has a carrying case and is under $40 but that's not necessary. Also, I don't care if it's readily available in the U.S. so long as I can buy it online.
I use a Graphite folding cane, and I love it. I had the metal ones as a child, and I agree that the joints really do screw up. I use a roller marshmellow tip on my Graphite Revolution cane, and it's the best kind for me. I've never liked any of the other canes, and I've tried most of them.
I've never yet seen a telescopic cane that doesn't collapse when it hits a bump. They are nice and compact, but I'd rather have something I could trust. I prefer either a graphite folding cane, or my fiber glass straight one.
Opa! I thought that there was such a thing as a fiber glass cane, but it ws so long ago now when I used one that I thought it was carbon fiber. Do they make those in fiber glass? Also, what are the California Canes made of? I liked the material on mine.
california canes have joints, and only go to a certain length, like 135 cm, which is shitty for anyone who is moderately tall. hmm.
If I remember, I think the California canes are graphite, but don't quote me on that one. When I get a graphite foldy, I get it from Ambutech. I know there are fiber glass straight ones, give me that over carbon fiber any day. I even heard once of a fiber glass folding, but am not sure about that.
I've used graphite folding canes for years from Revolution Enterprises and California Canes. The problem I had with both is the joints splintering and producing nasty cuts on the fingers. I bought my first Ambutech about three months ago. They seem to have worked around this by making the joints aluminum. They've doctored the joints so that the femail part of the joint has a cap around the edge, and I'm not sure what they did with the male part of the joint. All this is to say taht they solved that problem. The other thing I like is the handle is textured. You wouldn't think it a big deal, but I always found depending on what my gloves or mittens were made of, I'd have a hard time maintaining a grip on the cane in cold weather. Concerning cane length, I hate to admit it, but as I get older, my reflexes are slower. Consequently, my canes get longer.
Lou
Yes, Lou, you've hit on the reason why I use the Ambutech canes. I used to get graphite splinters from the other two companies canes, and those hurt like hell.
I've never heard of getting a splinter from a cane but that doesn't sound good. I guess all I can do is see. But I agree about the textured handle. I don't have any problems with my hands or sensativity but it seems wiser to have a good grip on the handle, particularly in bad weather or on uneven roads.