What type of cane do I need?

Using a cane can be a great way to make it easier and safer to get around independently. They create a wider field of touch so you can detect obstacles and orient yourself to your surroundings more easily. Canes are also widely recognised meaning that while you’re out and about, members of the public may move out of your way and offer help if you need it.

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If you’re considering using a white cane, understanding the different types of cane, how people use them in practice, and which cane might suit your needs best can be helpful.

In this guide, we’ll outline the features and uses of different canes and things to consider when choosing which is right for you.

Types of canes for vision impairment

There are four common types of canes for people with sight loss:

Long cane
Guide cane
Symbol cane
Support cane

Beyond these four main types, there are also different features, tips and colours that can be useful for you to recognise and understand. Most canes are made from aluminium, so they are light but strong and are normally covered with a reflective coating or tape for improved safety at night.

A long cane typically stands at chest height, between the user’s sternum (breastbone) and chin. It has a shaped tip, often a rolling ball or a pencil tip, chosen to suit the ground you're walking on or personal preference. Unlike other canes, the long cane will have a grip at the top. This is usually made from rubber but can be leather or wood.

Most people use a ball tip on a long cane which rolls across the ground while being swept from side to side, maintaining contact with the floor at all times for extra reassurance and security. However, some people prefer a long cane with a pointed tip. Using a two-point touch technique, the user taps the point along the floor before them to feel their way. A long cane helps to detect obstacles and is not designed to support your body weight. You must be assessed for size and receive proper training from Orientation and Mobility Specialist before using a long cane, and the Specialist can also choose a tip to suit your needs.
A guide cane is similar to a long cane but shorter, with a smaller reach and lacks the grip a long cane has. It usually stands as tall as your waist and is held out in front of you or in a diagonal position in front of your body to alert you to any obstacles. Guide canes tend to be collapsible, making them easier to transport and take out when needed and are not designed to support your body weight. You must be assessed for cane size and receive proper training from an Orientation and Mobility specialist before using a guide cane. They can also choose a tip to suit your needs.
Unlike most types of cane, symbol canes for visually impaired people are not used as a safety or support tool but to alert others to your limited sight. Most members of the public notice and recognise a white symbol cane for partially sighted people and will make allowances accordingly.

These canes are usually more suited to people with some functional vision, as although you can use them to check the distance of larger items, like furniture or doorways, you can not rely on them for physical support. Symbol canes are usually short and light folding canes that can be kept in a pocket or bag.

A woman walking with her cane in a corridor

What are the different types of cane tips?

Roller ‘marshmallow’ tip: A sphere like shape with rounded edges that rolls over the ground using constant contact technique. It is made from a durable material and is longer lasting. This tip is often the first type to be tried with the constant contact technique.
Rolling ball tip: A spherical ball tip that rolls over the ground using constant contact cane technique. The larger ball is designed to reduce snagging on small cracks in the pavement. The rolling ball tip is also available in a ‘high mileage’ option where the bottom of the sphere is made of more durable material and is longer lasting.
Jumbo roller tip: Shaped like a disc and rolls from side to side when using constant contact cane technique. It is typically made from a durable material to make it longer lasting and designed to reduce snagging on pavement cracks.
Pencil tip: A straight tip with a rounded ‘point’ at the end. This is designed to be used to tap on the ground in a two- or three-point touch cane technique.
Flex tip: Dome shaped with a flexible neck to prevent snagging on uneven surfaces. This is designed to be used with two-point touch technique.
‘Static’ Marshmallow tip: A cylindrical nylon tip available in a static version for using two-point touch cane technique.
Ceramic tip: Small ceramic half sphere shape which can be used with either two-touch technique or constant contact and provides the highest level of tactile and audio transmission.

Multi-terrain cane tips

Huju tip: Similar shape to a hockey stick. It is a hardwearing, all-terrain tip suitable for uneven surfaces like gravel, sand and grass. Its design allows it to give good tactile and audio feedback and glide over all-terrains using constant contact cane technique.
Dakota disk tip: A light and hollow disk shape designed to glide over uneven, softer surfaces such as sand, grass and gravel with constant contact technique. It is not designed to be used on hard surfaces such as pavement for long periods of time.
Omni-sense tip: A tip made from a combination of plastic wheels and rollers that allow the tip to move side to side and forward and backwards. It is designed to roll in a 360-degree motion using constant contact cane technique and provides increased audio feedback and designed to move easily over uneven surfaces.

What does it mean when a cane has a red band in the UK?

In the UK, a red band on any type of cane is a sign that the user has hearing loss as well as visual impairment. A white cane with a red band draws attention to the fact that the user may need additional support and adjustments.

How do I learn to use a cane?

You must undergo mobility and orientation training before using a cane. Your local authority sensory team or an orientation specialist will arrange for you to learn how to use a cane safely. You may also receive an assessment from a physiotherapist to determine your correct cane size.

Frequently asked questions

You can buy white canes from the Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB) shop, where you will also find cane accessories, like reflective tape, replacement tips, table hooks and storage pouches.

Some types of canes for the blind are also available to buy online from Amazon and eBay. Always check that you are purchasing a genuine aid from a reputable company.

Alternatively, ask your social worker or physiotherapist for local suppliers.
Existing cane users can refresh their skills using our online guides, including touch technique with your long cane, the diagonal technique with a long cane and using your long cane to go up and down stairs.

If you are a new cane user, contact your local sensory services team to request training from a qualified vision rehabilitation specialist on how to use a white cane and the best cane tips for you.
There is no one best type of cane tip; the right tip for you depends on your individual needs. Your degree of sight impairment, daily activities, where you travel, the kinds of surfaces you encounter and personal preference all play a part. You might decide to use several cane tips, switching between them as necessary.
Crook handle cane

It is possible to buy a cane with a crook handle (not to be mistaken for a shepherd’s crook walking stick). Canes with a hooked end, or crook, are not particularly common. They offer an alternative grip position and are simply a matter of preference, otherwise providing the same features as canes with straight grip handles.

Child’s cane

Children’s canes are available in additional colour ranges and smaller sizes.

Smart cane

Digital smart canes use a number of clever tools, including a compass, touchpad, gyroscope and accelerometer, to detect objects and obstacles on the ground, as well as at chest height and above, alerting the user through a vibrating handle. The clever device clips onto your existing long cane and can inform you of nearby hazards, give you real-time public transport information, and answer your questions about your immediate surroundings using voice feedback.