[Blindtlk] Cane suggestions needed please!

Mon Mar 14 23:18:33 UTC 2011

It really is a matter of personal preference, I think.  While I 
sometimes have to be careful as to where I put my cane, and cars took 
a little practice etc., anything I have to do is worth the 
reliability I think they offer.  I like the tactile feedback I get 
and don't have to worry about collapsing, jamming, bending, loose 
joints or any of the rest.  For me that is worth an occasional 
inconvenience, but I know it is different for each of us and there is 
no right or wrong.

Dave

At 01:24 PM 3/14/2011, you wrote:
>Personally I find streight canes to be more of a problem, you can't 
>put them away quickly especially at out door events, and they're 
>harder to take in cars and on public transportation. and the taller 
>they are, the more true that statement holds.
>Nikki
>----- Original Message ----- From: "Tom Cramer" <tom.cramer1 at gmail.com>
>To: "Blind Talk Mailing List" <blindtlk at nfbnet.org>
>Sent: Sunday, March 13, 2011 3:29 PM
>Subject: Re: [Blindtlk] Cane suggestions needed please!
>
>
>>Thanks Bryan,
>>I will do what you said; although, I think I have done everything from
>>pulling harder to the twisting as well.
>>It's mainly just the very bottom joint that gets loose.
>>Straight canes might be an answer, but I wonder about the quick
>>putting away of a cane when I'm in areas like restaurants and outdoor
>>events where there are many people.
>>Aren't straight canes more of a problem?
>>Tom
>>
>>On 3/11/11, Bryan Schulz <b.schulz at sbcglobal.net> wrote:
>>>hi,
>>>
>>>you are just not pulling the joints hard enough.
>>>you can let the sections extend to the ground then catch the tip between
>>>your shoes and pull the top segment and feel the friction.
>>>the only time mine becomes shorter is when i don't tug as hard as normal.
>>>you can do a twisting/rotating motion while extending it for more success.
>>>
>>>Bryan Schulz
>>>
>>>----- Original Message -----
>>>From: "Tom Cramer" <tom.cramer1 at gmail.com>
>>>To: "Blind Talk Mailing List" <blindtlk at nfbnet.org>
>>>Sent: Saturday, March 12, 2011 1:44 AM
>>>Subject: Re: [Blindtlk] Cane suggestions needed please!
>>>
>>>
>>>>Thanks for bringing this topic up.  I have a very similar question.
>>>>I have been getting some of the NFB telescopic canes for a while now,
>>>>but I always find that the last section is the one that always
>>>>collapses.  I don't like folding canes because I find them too heavy
>>>>but I like the telescopic canes because I can just put them away or
>>>>keep them out of the way when they're not being used.
>>>>However, what advice would you have about a good cane to get if these
>>>>telescopic canes are always collapsing when I use them?  I am also 6
>>>>ft 1 and think that the canes I have are too short but at the same
>>>>time, I have been told not to get a cane that's so long so as not to
>>>>trip people and not to be so distracting with it.
>>>>Tom
>>>>
>>>>On 3/11/11, Graves, Diane <dgraves at icrc.in.gov> wrote:
>>>>>Hi James,
>>>>>
>>>>>Well, unfortunately I haven't found this to be a win/win situation. For
>>>>>the
>>>>>purpose of convenience, I really like the telescopic canes. However, what
>>>>>
>>>>>I
>>>>>don't like is the fact that, particularly as they age,  they tend to
>>>>>start
>>>>>folding up on you when contacting items or obstacles which offer any
>>>>>resistance. I stop and tighten them up, and this works for a while, and
>>>>>then
>>>>>they encounter something else and try to collapse again. They look good.
>>>>>They are handy. They definitely stow away quickly and easily, but for the
>>>>>sake of travel, they can be very frustrating, and may even provide a
>>>>>hazard
>>>>>or two.
>>>>>
>>>>>I did really like the roller tips. I tend to use the constant contact
>>>>>method
>>>>>too. I don't know whether you could put one of these on a telescopic cane
>>>>>
>>>>>or
>>>>>not. The cane wouldn't stow as easily with one of those.
>>>>>
>>>>>As for the length, if you are 5/5, I definitely would not recommend going
>>>>>
>>>>>to
>>>>>a 46 inch cane. I am 5/1, and usually buy about a 57/58 inch cane. You
>>>>>really want to have that length to assure that you have the coverage and
>>>>>enough forewarning of steps and other things. If you don't want to go any
>>>>>longer with your canes, I definitely wouldn't go any shorter. If you go
>>>>>to a
>>>>>roller tip or one of the larger tips, the cane won't get caught as much.
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>Diane Graves
>>>>>Civil Rights Specialist
>>>>>Indiana Civil Rights Commission
>>>>>Alternative Dispute Resolutions Unit
>>>>>317-232-2647
>>>>>
>>>>>"It is service that measures success."
>>>>>George Washington Carver
>>>>>
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>>>>>-----Original Message-----
>>>>>From: blindtlk-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:blindtlk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
>>>>>Behalf Of James Kelm
>>>>>Sent: Friday, March 11, 2011 1:28 AM
>>>>>To: Blind Talk Mailing List; blinddog3 at charter.net
>>>>>Subject: [Blindtlk] Cane suggestions needed please!
>>>>>
>>>>>Dear friends,
>>>>>
>>>>>     I am looking at purchasing a new spiffy hot rod car of a cane, and I
>>>>>am
>>>>>hoping that some of the mobility experts on this list can help me select
>>>>>the
>>>>>appropriate cane!
>>>>>
>>>>>     I am currently using, and have been using for years, a straight
>>>>>folding
>>>>>cane.  I do a lot of in and out of buildings, as well as a lot of
>>>>>traveling
>>>>>within the interior of buildings.  I therefore like a cane that I can
>>>>>"fold"
>>>>>and "unfold" quickly and easily, and that is convenient to stow away when
>>>>>
>>>>>I
>>>>>am not traveling.  Because of this, a rigid cane is a big hassle for me!
>>>>>I
>>>>>like the folding cane, but I am considering getting a telescoping cane.
>>>>>My
>>>>>thought is that it will be convenient, and I tend to have a rather light
>>>>>touch, so I do not need something that will withstand a lot of abuse. I
>>>>>also think that it might be a nifty little sport model, to be able to
>>>>>stow
>>>>>away a very small cane, but quickly pull it out to its length when I need
>>>>>
>>>>>to
>>>>>go.  Do any of you have suggestions, or feedback concerning the
>>>>>telescoping
>>>>>canes?
>>>>>
>>>>>     Secondly, I am considering the advantages/disadvantages of putting a
>>>>>roller tip on the new cane.  I tend to use a constant contact mythod,
>>>>>rather
>>>>>than a tap tap style.  Although I have not had any significant issues, I
>>>>>am
>>>>>wondering if it would be a bit more smooth given my cane method, if my
>>>>>cane
>>>>>had a roller tip on it.  Am I correct, or is my thinking flawed?
>>>>>
>>>>>     Lastly, I am a statuesque 5 feet 5 inches tall.  My current folding
>>>>>cane
>>>>>is 53 inches.  I am thinking that it is too long for me, and that my new
>>>>>cane should be slightly shorter, maybe around 46 or 48 inches.  As I
>>>>>said,
>>>>>most of my travel is done within buildings, and I find that the current
>>>>>length of my cane is always getting caught in objects, or I am having to
>>>>>pull it more closely into my body to allow it to be used in tighter
>>>>>spaces.
>>>>>I often feel like either me, or my cane can fit in spaces where I am
>>>>>traveling, but not both of us!  LOLL
>>>>>
>>>>>     Thank you so much for your help!  I sincerely appreciate your
>>>>>guidance
>>>>>and suggestions!
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>Your Brother in Christ,
>>>>>Pastor James Kelm
>>>>>Foundational Christian Family Ministry
>>>>>www.fcfministry.org
>>>>>
>>>>>
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>>>>>
>>>>>what type of cane is good?
>>>>Tom