What type of cane do I need?

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.

A support cane is a sturdy, white mobility cane that people with vision loss can use for physical support. A physiotherapist will usually advise on the correct height for your support cane after an assessment.

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.

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 social work department or sensory team member for advice on how to use a white cane.

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.