[Blindtlk] AmbuTech graphite folding canes with roller tips

Judy Jones jtj1 at cableone.net
Sun Jun 14 22:21:09 UTC 2015 

In my years of using a telescoping cane, not from Ambutech, I have not had 
to bang it on the floor.  You simply place the tip on the floor and push 
down to collapse.  Only takes  couple seconds.

One thing that can happen with telescoping canes is that the sections can 
want to colapse while in use, but if you feel the sections loosening up 
while in use, simply plac tip between your feet and pull upward to tighten. 
This takes even less time than to collapse, and does not interfere with 
mobility at all.

Judy

-----Original Message----- 
From: Szostak, Christine via blindtlk
Sent: Sunday, June 14, 2015 2:14 PM
To: Blind Talk Mailing List
Cc: Szostak, Christine
Subject: Re: [Blindtlk] AmbuTech graphite folding canes with roller tips

Hi All,
  two quick questions on the telescoping canes from AmbuTech:

1)  Do they feel sturdy. As someone noted earlier, my experience too with 
the slim-line cane is that it is really wobbly, and one of the reasons I 
stayed away from the telescoping, is that I was made to believe they are 
somewhat the same in firmness. I know they are not slim line canes.

2)  In order to retract (not sure if that is the commonly used term)) the 
telescoping cane, do you have to bang it on the floor? That is what I have 
heard   and as someone teaching at the college level, I really do not want 
to be banging my cane in class simply to close it in front of my students:). 
Not real professional in my opinion:).
Have a nice rest of the weekend everyone!
Chris

Dr. Christine M. Szostak
Assistant Professor of Psychology
Department of Social Sciences
Shorter University
Rome, Georgia
szostak.1 at osu.edu
cszostak at shorter.edu

-----Original Message-----
From: blindtlk [mailto:blindtlk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Judy Jones 
via blindtlk
Sent: Sunday, June 14, 2015 4:02 PM
To: Blind Talk Mailing List
Cc: Judy Jones
Subject: Re: [Blindtlk] AmbuTech graphite folding canes with roller tips

THe ambutech canes are what they are.  I would definitely stick with the 
carbon fiber if you want light weight.  I, too, have on occasionally gon to 
my folding cane, but have not stayed with it for long.

Back in the 70s I used the Rainshine tips with a fiberglass telescopic cane, 
but I always carried an extra, as those canes could break, but have not had 
that happen with the carbon fiber.

I love the fact that I can fit my 5-section telescopic cane in my purse.
When at work, it hangs on a hook hidden underneath my desk.

I'm one, though, who loves using a cane, probably as I learned when I was a 
middle-schooler all those years ago, and it opened up a world of 
self-independence for me.

I remember my instructor saying that some day the cane would feel as natural 
as an extension to my arm.  I didn't believe her then, but I do now.

Judy


-----Original Message-----
From: Brice Smith via blindtlk
Sent: Sunday, June 14, 2015 1:23 PM
To: Blind Talk Mailing List
Cc: Brice Smith
Subject: Re: [Blindtlk] AmbuTech graphite folding canes with roller tips

I'm a cane snob. Why? I have a love/hate relationship with them – they're 
absolutely necessary but incredibly annoying. Let's not kid
ourselves: walking around with a five-foot stick can be an inconvenience. If 
I'm going to use one daily, then, I'm going to choose the best. I recommend 
the NFB collapsible or Ambutech two-piece telescopic. I've tried plenty of 
canes and here's my experience:

Despite the name, Ambutech's "lightweight" graphite canes are heavier than 
NFB's telescoping or folding canes. Please don't let the marketing materials 
fool you – if you are used to a carbon fiber cane with a metal or ceramic 
tip, the switch to an "ultralight" Ambutech graphite with a roller tip will 
be difficult, especially when you add the heavier [rolling] tip. The weight 
of the tip makes all the difference. Graphite folding canes with a ceramic 
or metal tip aren’t bad.

The Ambutech roller tip gives excellent physical auditory feedback, much 
more than a roller on a Revolution Advantage cane. However, I find the 
roller's ability to handle rough terrain somewhat overstated.
There's a patch of rough cobblestone outside my office, and the roller gets 
stuck and jabs me in the gut more often than a metal or ceramic tip. Perhaps 
because of its weight, the NFB/Chris Park cane almost seems to ... "skip" or 
"dance" over rough surfaces more than a heavy, rolling tip. Metal glide and 
ceramic tips aren’t perfect and will get stuck occasionally, but don’t fall 
into the trap of believing that something that rolls will solve all your 
sticking problems.

The Ambutech slim line cane is awful. It feels unbelievably flimsy, and I 
would never use it. Even the company tells you on the website that it's 
meant as an identification or light-duty cane, and the packaging clearly 
reiterates this. Avoid.

Ambutech's telescopic two-piece cane is excellent. It's incredibly 
lightweight, sturdy and available with all Ambutech’s standard tips, which 
means that you can switch between a roller and a metal tip at your will.

Personally, I find it impossible to switch back to a heavier cane after 
using a lightweight model. No matter how much I try and use a sturdy, solid, 
heavier cane, I always end up resorting back to something lighter in the 
end. The carbon fiber canes have irrevocably spoiled me. That's 
disappointing, because I really like the build and construction of 
Ambutech's folding canes. I just wish they were a little bit lighter.


On 6/13/15, Arielle Silverman via blindtlk <blindtlk at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> Hi all.
> The cane tip discussion reminded me that I have been thinking about
> trying one of the AmbuTech folding canes but want to get some
> feedback. I love my lightweight NFB straight cane and could never use
> an aluminum cane again, but I've been repeatedly disappointed by NFB's
> telescoping and folding cane options, and sometimes it's just way more
> convenient to use a folding cane. I'm also thinking about trying a
> rolling tip because I think NFB tips sometimes get stuck in sidewalk
> cracks and such. I also hate having to change my NFB tip monthly and I
> was intrigued to read that roller tips only have to be changed once a
> year.
> So here are my questions. (1) Does AmbuTech have a lightweight cane
> option similar to the NFB's fiberglass or carbon fiber canes? Would
> graphite be the best choice if I want something light? And (2) are you
> happy with the roller tips and as a longtime NFB cane user, do you
> think I would have any trouble adjusting to a roller tip? Or is there
> a better tip option?
> Thanks, Arielle
>
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