When I first started using a blindness cane, I wasn’t sure what kind of cane tip to purchase for my first cane, and had just been told to buy something before I started college. I ended up buying a random pencil cane tip on Amazon because it was the first result for “blindness cane,” and quickly became frustrated with the cane I had picked.
What I didn’t realize at the time was that the pencil tip cane would not be a great fit for me as a college student using a constant contact method, and I was incredibly frustrated with my cane until I met with a Certified Orientation and Mobility Specialist (COMS) who introduced me to the rolling marshmallow tip. Up until that point, I had no idea there were so many different types of blindness cane tips available, and felt like I had “cracked the code” for figuring out how to effectively use a blindness cane. Here are some of the most popular blindness cane tips used by blind and low vision people around the world.
DISCLAIMER
I am not a Certified Orientation and Mobility Specialist (COMS), and I strongly recommended working with a COMS from the state department for visual impairment or vocational rehabilitation prior to purchasing or using a blindness cane for the first time. I cannot make individual recommendations for what cane someone should use, or if they should be using a cane at all. The information provided here is for informational purposes only, and is written from the perspective of a person with low vision that uses a cane in their everyday life.
RELATED LINKS
- Services Provided By State Department/State Unit for Visual Impairment
- Vocational Rehabilitation for College Students
How are tips attached to white canes?
Depending on the type of blindness cane that is purchased, there are a few ways to attach cane tips to the cane itself. While most canes ship with a tip attached, cane tips can be replaced or changed without requiring the purchase of a brand new cane. Some examples of ways that cane tips can be attached include:
- Hook-on cane tips: Commonly used for collapsible canes that can be folded down for storage. The elastic inside of the cane body has a hook on the end, and the hook-on tip is attached to the internal hook to secure the tip in place.
- Slip-on cane tips: Instead of being secured to the inside of a cane, slip-on tips feature an open segment that slides onto the bottom of the cane to secure it in place.
- Threaded cane tips: Similar to a nail, threaded cane tips have a cylindrical design that can be screwed into place on the bottom of the cane.
To determine what kind of cane tip will be needed, users will need to examine the cane or identify the types of replacement tips that are recommended by the manufacturer. In general, it is recommended that individuals choose cane tips that are made by the same manufacturer as their white cane/blindness cane to ensure best fit.
Rolling tips vs stationary tips
There are different techniques to using a blindness cane or white cane, and certain cane tips are better designed to be used with specific techniques. Rolling tips are designed to be constantly on the ground, and are heavier and more dense to accommodate multiple types of terrain. Stationary tips do not move while in use, and are designed for two-point touch or lifting the cane tip from the ground while in use, and have a more lightweight design to accommodate lifting.
Related links
- Five Questions To Ask When Buying A Blindness Cane
- Touring Colleges With A Blindness Cane: College O&M
Pencil tip: 8 grams
The pencil tip cane is a thin, straight piece of plastic on the bottom of a cane, almost like a magician’s wand. It does not provide very much feedback compared to other cane tips and is often used for identification purposes, so that someone with vision loss can alert others of their condition. This blindness cane tip can easily get stuck in sidewalk cracks, so it should not be used with constant contact techniques.
A real-life example of someone using a pencil tip cane would be my low vision friend using their cane to navigate at night when it is harder to see obstacles, or another friend using it to navigate a school hallway to alert surrounding students that they have trouble seeing. In both scenarios, my friends are still using their vision to navigate their environment, and have the cane as a secondary tool.
Related links
- Decoding The Colors of Blindness Canes
- High School Hallways and Low Vision
- Tips For Improving Confidence About Using Assistive Technology
- Dealing With Imposter Syndrome: College O&M
Mushroom tip: 17 grams
The mushroom tip has a small, rounded bottom, like an upside down mushroom. They have a greater surface area than pencil tip canes and can provide more information about surfaces as a result. While this cane isn’t designed for constant contact, it is better suited to this technique compared to the pencil cane tip because the larger tip size is less likely to get stuck in sidewalk cracks.
One of my friends prefers this cane because they often use their cane indoors when navigating to class, and appreciate not having to worry about their cane getting stuck inside a grate or other surface.
Related links
Metal glide tip/Silver circle tip: 19 grams
The silver circle tip, dime tip, or metal glide tip is a small disc-shaped cane tip made of metal, which provides both auditory and kinesthetic/tactile feedback when moving across different types of terrains. Most commonly used as part of the NFB white cane design, the metal glide tip is designed for use with the two-point touch technique, though it can also be used with constant contact as long as it doesn’t get stuck in anything.
The metal glide tip/silver circle tip has the same half-sphere design as the ceramic cane tip for blindness canes, with the primary difference being the material and slight difference in weight (17 grams for ceramic cane tip). There is also a black rubber ring that connects the ceramic cane tip to the body of the cane.
Related links
Rolling marshmallow tip: 39 grams
The rolling marshmallow tip gets its name because it looks like a marshmallow and can rotate 360 degrees. It is one of the most common cane tips and allows users to go across a variety of surfaces with ease and have constant contact with the ground, but does not provide much feedback about a surface if the user taps their cane instead. This is my everyday cane and I have tons of friends that use it as well- I can walk around both indoor and outdoor spaces with ease.
Related links
- Ten Things To Know About Going To College With A Blindness Cane
- Seven Places I Don’t Take My Blindness Cane
Roller Ball tip: 69 grams
The roller ball tip rotates like the marshmallow tip. It is much larger in size than other cane tips, measuring two inches in diameter (about the size of a small organge). The ball tip is great when learning how to use a cane, or for walking for long periods of time without wearing down a cane tip. It can be fairly heavy, so it works best for constant contact techniques where the cane tip is always on the ground.
I personally have a roller ball tip that I use when navigating particularly rough terrain or construction areas to avoid too much wear and tear on the smaller marshmallow tips. It also has the additional bonus of not easily getting stuck in sidewalk cracks.
Related links
Snow cane tips: 66 grams
There are a few different designs for blindness cane tips that can be used in the snow, including a hockey stick style design, the Dakota snow tip that has a rolling oversized disc tip, and brightly colored ball cane tips that provide more visual contrast against the snow. While someone can theoretically use their regular cane tip to walk through the snow, this may not work well when navigating large amounts of snow or ice. They may also be marketed as all-terrain canes, and can be useful for navigating sandy beaches as well.
Related links
Pathfinder/free wheeling cane tip: 51 grams
Another option for navigating uneven terrain while hiking or exploring nature, pathfinder cane tips and free wheeling cane tips are 2.5 to 3 inches wide and resemble a bike wheel, detecting significant changes in terrain. These rotate in the forward direction only, and do not rotate 360 degrees like the ball or marshmallow tips. This type of cane could also be useful for visually impaired individuals that also use wheelchairs for mobility as a way to help them explore their surroundings.
What about colored cane tips?
Just like there are blindness canes that come in colors other than white, there are also blindness cane tips that come in red or other bright colors, which can provide an additional visual indicator (making the cane easier to see) or enhanced contrast against different types of terrain. There are also LED cane tips that can give off additional bright or flashing light as a visual cue, which can be helpful when navigating in poorly lit environments.
While blindness canes are wrapped in a reflective material, most cane tips are made of nylon (or occasionally plastic or metal) that does not have any reflective coating.
Related links
- High Contrast and Low Vision
- Decoding The Colors of Blindness Canes
- Incorporating Blindness Canes into Halloween Costumes
So what cane tip should I use?
It’s up to you and your orientation and mobility instructor to decide which cane tip works best for your needs. Preferences can change over time, and it’s not uncommon to own canes with several different cane tips. By decoding the tips of blindness canes, users can learn what cane tip works for them and navigate the world safely and independently.
Published October 9, 2018. Updated November 2024