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 in safety and with confidence. Having the right kind of long-white-cane can enable you to achieve that. But which cane is best for you? I will talk about some of the cane options available and give you some criteria that should make choosing the right cane for yourself easy.

Why Are the Long-White-Canes for the Vision-Impaired 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 level 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 rigid, folding, and telescoping cane styles available today and why you might choose one style over another.

What is the Rigid Long-White-Cane?
As the name suggests, the ‘rigid’ cane is a single fiberglass tube (with a handle at one end and a metal tip at the other) that can’t be bent.

First, the rigid long-white-cane can’t be folded or hidden out of sight. This doesn’t sound much like an advantage. But, in the right circumstances, it can be.

The rigid cane is the favorite of long-white-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 be used.

Another reason the rigid long-white-cane is so popular is that it is so light and easy to carry. It is often made of the latest space-age materials and is very easy to manipulate with just the slightest pressure from the fingertips. This means that it is more ‘sensitive’ when the end encounters an obstacle in your way. The user can better react to impediments. The lighter rigid cane also reduces hand and wrist fatigue during long walks. For example, I used a rigid long-white-cane during a one-day 40-mile hike 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.

What is the Folding or Telescoping Long-White-Cane?
I am tall. This means my cane is tall too. This makes it very easy to travel at the pace I want. However, when I don’t need it, the height of my rigid long-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. 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 like a folding cane except that rather than looking like a very small stack of wood, each segment slides into one another making for very convenient storage size.

As mentioned earlier, folding and telescoping long-white-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 of folding canes is their weight. Folding canes are heavier and are less sensitive when encountering obstacles. Also, they increase the chances of hand and wrist fatigue.

Telescoping canes are great—except when you run into something. The cane can collapse into itself (de-telescope) thus making it useless until you re-telescope it.

Why is the Choice of the right Long-White-Cane for you So Important?
Most 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 long-white-cane is one of the simplest and least expensive devices to use to achieve that goal. For example, you can get a long-white-cane for free from https://www.nfb.org/programs-services/free-white-cane-program.

Several types of long-white-canes are available today, made from a wide variety of materials. It isn’t very important which cane you use (rigid 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 to reach full independence and the lifestyle you want.