The Sphinx’s riddle asks, “What goes on four legs in the morning, two at noon, and three in the evening?”

Give up? The answer is: a human being, who crawls on four limbs as a baby in the morning of their life, walks upright on two legs in the middle of the day, and uses a cane in the twilight of their years.

Of course, there are many other reasons why one might need a cane, and many people find themselves in need of one at some point before the “evening”. Canes can be great accessories as well as useful walking aids. Foldable canes even collapse down to hide in a purse or bag when not in use. They’re fun to collect and some of them even make great conversation pieces. Read on to find out which hot new canes you could be showing off proudly.

  1. The PathLighter Lighted Cane – This unassuming cane hides a helpful secret. The bottom half lights up to help you find your way through the dark. With an offset handle and a secure rubber tip, this cane is stable as well as enlightening. Bring it along anywhere and you are sure to be glad for it.
  2. The Rechargeable Flashlight – This collapsible cane may look like a standard black, derby-handled walking aid, completely uninteresting… but don’t be fooled. The handle hides a flashlight bright enough to light your way anywhere. Even better, it will never run out of batteries, because this light is actually charged via hand crank- your own efforts power this bright idea.
  3. The Glow Gel Grip – Available in nine smart designs, this foldable cane also offers a feature so useful it’s amazing more canes don’t do it- the handle and tip glow in the dark. With this cane, you will never again have to grope through a dark room wondering where you left your walking cane, and it is even easy to spot in the bottom of a duffel bag.
  4. The Carbon Fiber Quad – Small base quad canes are the perfect combination of stability and maneuverability, and this one even solves the last problem of all quad canes- weight. At a mere 8.5 ounces, this quad cane is lighter than most standard single-tip canes. And with two colors to choose from, this cane is an essential buy for any cane aficionado.