I started off with the heavy roller ball tip revolution cane, but my O&M instructor got me hooked on the NFB cane. It is extremely light, flexible but strong, and it has a solid metal tip that increases tactile and audio feedback when it is being used. I can move it around and clear it from obstacles extraordinarily quickly, much faster than with the revolution Cain. I'm not sure how long they are meant to last since I'm relatively new to all of this, but they feel like they should last a very long while, especially with the ability to change out the tips.

Canes have a range of values based on their materials and length. I happen to use a 61-62 inch Cain, and the ones I've paid for so far have ranged between $65-$95. The metal tips for the NFB Cain I currently use run at about $3 each.

And I am fully blind with low light perception.

For people new to vision loss, there can be a variety of reactions. Depends on many factors. So far, for my worst case scenarios, I've had someone throw a cane at me (they missed), I've had someone spit at me (also missed) and hospital staff saying I couldn't issue the client the cane because it could be used as a weapon (client was in the psych ward of a mental health hospital).

Most people, if they've come to accept their vision loss, usually pick up the basics right away. Some may need more coaxing than others. I find that cultural values also plays a large role. I am working with one young child, but the grandparents refuse to let the child use the cane, to the point where they hide the cane (the grandparents are old-country Chinese).

For children, it depends on their age and their development. I've issued canes to children as young as 1.5 years old, but I know they wouldn't be using it formally, it is more to get them use to the cane. If it is something they do need, we usually start them with a tool called a pre-cane first (usually some PVC piping, arranged similiar to a broom or something) to get used to how it works. Generally, though, the youngest that get formal O&M instruction is around 4-5ish, when they can understand commands and why we are teaching what we teach.

https://ambutech.com/shop-online/aluminum-mobility-cane

If you check out their website, they provide the option to change the handle colour, the shaft colour and the bottom colour. The colour change is a bit of a contentious topic, with some saying it should remain white and red, and others saying it doesn't matter. The handle colour is a minimal issue, though. I know most kids decorate parts of the handle and attack things to the loop (helps to differentiate between a dozen canes at camps and such).

The cane height is usually measured to the sternum, modified by their walking speed. Some teachers prefer to measure the cane up the nose, for added length, but I personally find that a bit unweildy.

Most people hold the cane "wand" style, but some hold it "pencil" style. I find holding it like a wand gives the maximium control, but it does depend on personal taste. The golf club style handle is pretty classic, but there are some other handle designs. Those are usually for a specifically medical reason, though. I just recently helped an OT on making a prosthetic brace for a client to hold a cane, because the client lost all their fingers in a fire. Additionally, some added technology sometimes makes another grip necessary.

http://www.designanduniverse.com/articles/images/bat_technoloyg/baston.jpg

The primary reason red was added was to give contrast in the snow. While the black tape would cover the reflective red parts, the white parts should still be reflective.

Also, do the different tips effect the feedback you get from the cane? What do you prefer to use?

So from a design perspective, the caine is a long stick, lightweight enough to be used properly, if you haven't looked up video's of propper caine technique, do that.
As far as what I like to feel, most caine's have that rubber grib at the top, that feels fine, the caine doesn't feel ugly, no more than you sit there thinking about how ugly your steering wheel is. The reason it sucks to use a caine is that your waving a stick around and whacking people in the ankles with it. The only way to look more blind is to have no caine and trip and fall and break your face on lightpolls, etc. The reason it sucks to use a caine, is that the caine's painted, red and white, is it, can't remember. Whatever, it looks like a blind people caine. Keeping in mind that some brightness on the caine is desirable to make the general public take note, getting away from the standard design, as far as colors and miterials are concerned is your best bet. As I said, now I use a dog, but if, at fifteen, I'd had the oprotunity to buy a blind caine in the colors of a pimp caine, or a blind caine with the top part formed into the head of an animal, with the feel of say, carved designs going up the sides, or anything at all different from the standard, I'd have spend serious bank to do that. The problem with using a caine psychologicly is that first your waving a fucking stick around, and second, that stick looks like a piece of shit labeling all the users as fucking retards.

> How big does your cane fold up to be?

I'm using the $1. It's a light-duty mobility cane and mine folds up to be about 8.5in - making it super portable. I recently switched from a more heavy-duty one with fewer sections that was about 15in folded.

> If your taking your cane with you does that mean you have to take a bag with you too?

Or, for this particular one, a large pocket works, too, but I usually carry a small bag anyway.

> Does it fold out like a tent pole or more like a telescope?

Tent pole. I considered a telescoping one because of how compact it could get, but in the end, I decided against it because it would be slower to extend/collapse, and also because it's easy with a telescoping cane to end up with it not being quite the same length every time, which can be confusing when using it to do things like judge the distance of a step.

> What sort of feed back does the cane give, do you think it varies from cane to cane?

I think the sensitivity varies a bit from cane to cane and tip to tip, and also technique, but in general, changes in texture and elevation, judging distance, changes to surface material based on both texture and sound, etc. There are caning techniques for finding doorways, door handles, and doing more complex things, but they're not typically ones I need due to the nature of my vision loss. My visual acuity is enough to see things like that, but I have no depth perception and no peripheral vision, the effects of both of which are made worse by bad lighting.

> What is the grip like on the cane?

The slim-line cane that I have has a fairly lightweight foam grip. More heavy duty canes have a rubber grip that often more closely resembling a golf club grip. I think that would probably be more durable for everyday/long-term use. But for my needs, the foam grip is fine and comfortable.

> How long have you been using the cane?

This particular one, only a few weeks. Canes in general, periodically for the past 6yrs, and more consistently for the past maybe 6 months. No changes in my vision, just less desire to put myself in situations where I risk injury.