sneaker styled walking cane by matthew kroeker for top & derby

‘sneaker-styled walking cane’ by matthew kroeker for top & derby

for hundreds of years, walking sticks were used as common fashion accessories – made and worn with pride. over time, the aesthetics were abandoned and the finely crafted artifacts were replaced with cold, clinical, and impersonal items of utility. canadian designer matthew kroeker has conceived an elegant and functional walking cane for top & derby, helping give cane-users an extra boost of confidence and poise in their daily routines. the handle has a distinct nose which is comfortable to hold and intuitively positions the hand directly over the wood shaft. this unique detail also allows the assistive device to rest against a wall effortlessly for quick access; it can be propped up on its nose or side, without the cane slipping or falling over as easily as generic canes often do.

the cane can be perched on it’s side

cast in aluminum and then heat-treated the construction provides a rigid core, which over-molded with silicone, forming a soft, continuous grip that conforms to a users hand and dampens vibrations while they walk. The shaft is turned from solid American black walnut and finished with a durable coating to protect the wood and bring out the natural variation in the grain. the show of the grain implements a sneaker-influenced sole that’s molded in an abrasion resistant thermoplastic rubber. the walking canes are seeking funding on indiegogo.

the over-molded silicone grip allows the cane to lean against the wall without slipping

the wordmark is laser marked on the solid walnut shaft

sneaker-influenced

woman with a top & derby cane

designboom has received this project from our ‘DIY submissions‘ feature, where we welcome our readers to submit their own work for publication. see more project submissions from our readers here.