One of the simplest and most useful tools that the vision impaired can utilize in their independence toolbox is the long-white-cane. The key to independence is the ability to travel where and when you want with safety and confidence.

And, having the right kind of long-white-cane can make all the difference. But, which cane is best for any given person? I will talk about some of the cane options available and give you some criteria that should make choosing the right cane for you very simple.

    
 

Why are White Canes White?

First things first, why are the canes used by the blind white? Well, several years ago, it was agreed that the cane for the blind would be white for two reasons. First, the white would contrast with the surroundings making it easy to locate by a vision impaired person who might have misplaced it. Second, the white color makes the cane very visible to the public (which includes traffic) and notifies them that the person carrying the cane has some kind of vision impairment. Thus, notified that there is a vision impaired person around, the public is now aware and can take extra caution.

 
 

Given this background, I will discuss just a few of the cane styles available today and why I would choose one over another in a given situation.

 
 

What is the Straight-White-Cane?

Like the name suggests, the straight-white-cane or ‘rigid’ cane is one long piece of fiberglass that can’t be bent or folded. The straight-white-cane is very popular for a few reasons. First, it can’t be folded or hidden out of the way. This doesn’t sound like an advantage. But, it can be.

 
 

The straight-white-cane is the favorite of cane training instructors because beginning cane users are often shy about being seen with their canes and this can cause a problem. Beginning cane users often try to hide their canes out-of-sight. That is perfectly understandable. Change is always challenging. If new blind students are given a cane that can be folded and hidden away, it is too easy for them to keep their canes folded up and unused. Mobility instructors want their students to use their canes. So, they prefer a cane that the student can’t hide and will therefore be used.

 
 

Another reason the straight-white-cane is so popular is because it so light and easy to carry. It is often made of the latest space-aged materials and is really easy to manipulate with just the fingertips. An additional benefit to its light weight is that it is more ‘sensitive’ when the end encounters an obstacle in your way. The user almost instantly knows there is something in front of them and can react accordingly. I used a light straight-white-cane during a 40 mile walk over 14 hours without feeling any fatigue in my hand or wrist. On the other hand, my feet hurt like hell and were covered with blisters. The biggest selling point for me for choosing a straight-white-cane is how light it is and how easy it is to travel with.

 
 

What is the Folding or Telescoping Cane?

I am tall. This means my cane is tall to. This makes it very easy to travel at the pace I want. However, when I don’t need it, the height of my straight-white-cane makes it a challenge to store conveniently—such as while traveling on a plane.

 
 

I have several blind friends who are professional travelers and who accumulate hundreds-of-thousands -of-miles of travel a year. In order to be as flexible as possible no matter what form of transportation they take, they prefer a folding or telescoping cane. And for them, this makes a lot of sense.

 
 

A folding cane breaks down into short segments that stack upon each other like cords of wood which is held together with an elastic strap. A telescoping cane is similar to a folding cane except that rather than looking like a very small stack of wood, each segment slides into one another making for a very convenient storage size.

 
 

As mentioned earlier, folding and telescoping canes are great while traveling because the overall size can be reduced, making it easy to store under your seat or in a briefcase. A disadvantage to folding canes is the weight. Folding canes are heavier and are less sensitive when encountering obstacles. Telescoping canes are great—except when you run into something. The canes tend to collapse into themselves (detelescope?) thus making them useless till you retelescope them.

 
 

Why is the Choice of a Cane So Important?

The vast majority of legally blind people struggle to find meaningful employment. A key to finding a good job is the ability to travel where you want safely. The cane is one of the simplest and least expensive devices to use. However, it can make the greatest difference in the quality of life for the vision impaired.

 
 

There are all kinds of canes available today that are made from a wide variety of materials. It isn’t really important which cane you use (straight-white-canes, folding canes, or telescoping canes). The important fact is that you choose one that you will use. If you don’t use it, it can’t help you reach full independence and the lifestyle you want.