[Blindtlk] Choosing Cane Lengths

[James Kelm]

Dear Christine,

    I'm sure that many others will respond to your question with much better 
ideas than mine, but I'll throw my two cents in here and hopefully it will 
be of some help!

    For me personally, I find that I am most comfortable with two different 
lengths of cane.  Of course if I am out and about I don't take both of them 
with me, but it does give me an option before leaving home, depending on 
what general travel I will be doing.  For general out of doors travel, I 
tend to prefer a longer cane, one that if standing will reach level with my 
chin.  The longer reach will offer a greater amount of warning when the tip 
encounters an object, stairs, etc.  This can be especially helpful if you 
are a faster walker, because once you identify an object, there won't be a 
lot of warning before your body reaches it.  You may even want to consider a 
bit longer of a cane such as one that is level to your nose, to provide a 
bit more time to evaluate something in your path, before you actually reach 
it.

    In doors I find that a longer cane only serves to get tangled up in 
objects more often, and often can intrude into other people's space.  For 
example when I go to a local store that I often frequent, if I use a too 
long of a cane, it is always getting tangled up in displays, or bumping 
people's angles.  For me personally, this is undesirable and uncomfortable. 
For these reasons, and because I generally moved slower when in a confined 
area such as in a store, I prefer a shorter cane.  I personally use one that 
is at collar bone height.  I find that this still gives me enough warning of 
what is in front of me, but I am not spending so much time trying to 
untangle it from chairs, displays, or strangers legs.

    Of course this is only my opinion, and I am not that fast of a walker. 
Your mileage may differ!  LOLL


Your friend,
James


-----Original Message----- 
From: Szostak, Christine via blindtlk
Sent: Monday, December 29, 2014 6:43 AM
To: Blind Talk Mailing List
Subject: [Blindtlk] Choosing Cane Lengths

Hi All,
  What are your recommendations for cane lengths? I am 5 ft exactly and a 
relatively fast walker.
Happy holidays!
Chris
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