# Anybody here know about canes? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [May 27, 2024, 11:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-here-know-about-canes/1002161 "2024-05-27T23:13:07Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 14\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![kitap](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/b9e5f3/32.png) [@kitap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kitap)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2024, 2:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-here-know-about-canes/1002161/21 "2024-05-29T02:06:04Z")
I bought a Hurrycane in metallic blue, then put my name on it with stickers - I’ve left it once or twice in the bathroom at work and wanted the temps to know who to return it to. ---
**Author:** ![Apodder](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/apodder/32/17727_2.png) [@Apodder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Apodder)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2024, 1:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-here-know-about-canes/1002161/22 "2024-05-29T13:02:18Z")
I got my mom a pretty flowered one on Amazon for $15-20. Adjustable and works just fine. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2024, 1:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-here-know-about-canes/1002161/23 "2024-05-29T13:39:36Z")
I gave my MIL a cane with a liquor insert as a sorta gag gift. It’s a cheap cane, but she has used it a few times just to freak out her senior citizen friends. ---
**Author:** ![TRC4941](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/trc4941/32/6792_2.png) [@TRC4941](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TRC4941)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2024, 2:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-here-know-about-canes/1002161/24 "2024-05-29T14:30:28Z")
I bought my mom and MIL canes from Amazon. They came in pretty colors and prints so I thought they would be much more apt to use them. My mom (83) has bad arthritis in her legs and my MIL (84) had hip replacement surgery and has had issues with walking since. My mom uses hers, my MIL refused. She was vain and didn’t want to look old. Well she fell, broke her wrist, and went downhill very quickly. She died 3 months later. Moral of the story, use a cane if you need to! ---
**Author:** ![PatrickLondon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/patricklondon/32/4422_2.png) [@PatrickLondon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PatrickLondon)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2024, 2:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-here-know-about-canes/1002161/25 "2024-05-29T14:53:32Z")
Not sure if there’s a transatlantic terminology difference here, but what about adjustable walking poles? They can look sporty rather than medical, and there are also quite a few with a seat attached. > **[How To Choose Walking Poles](https://www.ellis-brigham.com/walking-poles/walking-poles-buying-guide)** > > This guide highlights key features of walking poles and how they can help you go further and potentially faster when used correctly. Perfect for making a more informed decision before you buy. ---
**Author:** ![needscoffee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/needscoffee/32/1076_2.png) [@needscoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/needscoffee)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2024, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-here-know-about-canes/1002161/26 "2024-05-29T19:35:14Z")
> [@PatrickLondon](#): > > They can look sporty rather than medical, and there are also quite a few with a seat attached. I’d be worried about someone with limited mobility balancing on a cane seat. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2024, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-here-know-about-canes/1002161/27 "2024-05-29T20:08:18Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > I gave my MIL a cane with a liquor insert as a sorta gag gift. It’s a cheap cane, but she has used it a few times just to freak out her senior citizen friends. - Get her this, she can tell her friends it’s for her pot. [https://www.reddit.com/r/woodworking/comments/37ghyy/a\_walking\_cane\_thats\_also\_a\_smoking\_pipe/](https://www.reddit.com/r/woodworking/comments/37ghyy/a_walking_cane_thats_also_a_smoking_pipe/) ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2024, 8:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-here-know-about-canes/1002161/28 "2024-05-29T20:23:27Z")
> [@StarvingButStrong](#): > > Do canes come in sizes? Surely they must, a 6’2" guy can’t be using the same cane as my 5’6" friend. Or are they, I don’t know, maybe made in one tall size and then trimmed down and recapped for short people? Canes come in lengths, or some can be cut down, and some are adjustable- dont get one of them. I have had some adjustable walking sticks- and they dont stay at the height. > [@StarvingButStrong](#): > > Or, heck, how about a secret dagger? Illegal in many places- but a shillelagh type cane is legal. > [@mbh](#): > > Do an image search for “hand carved walking sticks”, and you will see a tremendous variety of styles. Good idea. > [@Jasmine](#): > > [**Classy Walking Canes**](https://www.walking-canes.net/pages/measuringforawalkingcane) says that the correct size for a cane meant for a 5’ 6" person is 33 inches. Check out their “walking canes” link. Sounds about right. ---
**Author:** ![crowmanyclouds](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crowmanyclouds/32/19884_2.png) [@crowmanyclouds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crowmanyclouds)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2024, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-here-know-about-canes/1002161/29 "2024-05-29T21:24:18Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > some are adjustable- dont get one of them. I have had some adjustable walking sticks- and they dont stay at the height. Walking sticks usually use friction locks. Adjustable canes, almost always, use pin in hole locks. Pin in hole locks are locked at their set height and have to have the pin depressed to adjust. Wanted to point this out, the needed length of a cane isn’t necessarily constant. I need one height in the hose when I’m barefoot, a different one when I’m out in the yard wearing thin soled shoes, and a third height wearing heeled boots. Add into that, the height that feels best for support isn’t the height I prefer for balance. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2024, 12:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-here-know-about-canes/1002161/30 "2024-05-30T00:58:34Z")
> [@crowmanyclouds](#): > > Walking sticks usually use friction locks. > Adjustable canes, almost always, use pin in hole locks. > Pin in hole locks are locked at their set height and have to have the pin depressed to adjust. Okay, as long as they have that sort of lock. ---
**Author:** ![StarvingButStrong](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/starvingbutstrong/32/335_2.png) [@StarvingButStrong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StarvingButStrong)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2024, 2:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-here-know-about-canes/1002161/31 "2024-05-30T02:33:51Z")
So much helpful info! Thank you to all. At first I thought this would be easy. That store you linked, CrowManyClouds, had some wonderful canes, and decent prices, too. On the very first page I looked at I saw a can that simply screamed my friend’s name to me! It was covered in what looked like water-color painted flowers, so bright and springy, I swear she has a half dozen dresses at least with fabrics that could have been painted by that artist. And there was this gorgeous one that looked like it was covered in silver lace that would utterly suit me. I don’t have to limp to use a cane, right? Some times, especially when there’s ice or snow on the ground, a little more steadying would be very useful. The advice about getting some training from a physical therapist made sense, and should be easy enough, she’s supposed to be going for some weeks anyway, to strengthen her hip/thigh muscles. I’m sure helpful ‘how to’ tips are SOP. But then the subject of hand grips got more prominent. What would suit her? She’s not terribly strong, so maybe a palm type grip? But what if that is shaped for a more robust hand that hers? And she has some arthritis… Would foam padding be better or worse? And foldable or not? If she’d mainly be using it to get from a car to some place (restaurant, say, or theater) then being able to fold it away would be terribly convenient. But some say they are less safe and can be rattley so if she’s doing more walking… I dunno. So, I think this is going to be a ‘you pick it out’ type present. I’ll check around the local cities, Boston, Waltham, Lowell maybe and try to find stores that carry good selections of canes, and then we’ll make a day out of lunch and shopping for it. Let her try them out, walk up and down the aisle a bit, see what feels best to her and what she thinks is prettiest. Heck, maybe I’m totally wrong. Maybe there’s a deeply hidden side to her that would in fact love a cane with a death skull grip and drips of blood and ichor running down the length. ---
**Author:** ![phs3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/8491ac/32.png) [@phs3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/phs3)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2024, 4:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-here-know-about-canes/1002161/32 "2024-05-30T04:56:10Z")
Also be aware that there’s a right way to use a cane if you have a bad/weak side, and it may not be obvious until someone shows you. I learned this at age 24 after buggering my knee. ---
**Author:** ![Die\_Capacitrix](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/die_capacitrix/32/9_2.png) [@Die\_Capacitrix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Die_Capacitrix)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2024, 1:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-here-know-about-canes/1002161/33 "2024-05-30T13:09:41Z")
> [@PatrickLondon](#): > > Not sure if there’s a transatlantic terminology difference here, but what about adjustable walking poles? My mother was told by her PT to use these, but that was only after she was about 1 year after her knee replacement. In addition to her knee problems, she also has hip and back issues. The walking poles help keep her from hunching over too much. She has rubber tips on hers, and carries spares as they wear out or decide to go walkabout. She first had a cane which she borrowed from a friend, but it didn’t suit her. My dad found a cane in her favorite color, which was the correct height and suited her much better. ---
**Author:** ![dgy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a587f6/32.png) [@dgy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dgy)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2024, 2:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-here-know-about-canes/1002161/34 "2024-05-30T14:36:51Z")
> [@StarvingButStrong](#): > > Heck, maybe I’m totally wrong. Maybe there’s a deeply hidden side to her that would in fact love a cane with a death skull grip and drips of blood and ichor running down the length. It is likely that this is just one step on a path to greater dependence on assistive technologies. So, anything to help get her head wrapped around the idea of accepting such assistance is in her best interest is probably A Good Thing. I have a friend who requires TWO canes to get around – even in her house. I got her a “scooter” to help with some of the longer treks where canes just wouldn’t cut it. Then, realized there was a need for accommodating the canes ON the scooter! (canes that don’t easily collapse/fold are hard to “stow” in their normal forms) Sadly, we neglect huge (and growing!) portions of our population in our policies, pricing, development, etc. “The trick is to die young…” ☹ [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-here-know-about-canes/1002161.md?page=1)