Podcast Summary: The Blind Life Podcast

Episode 36: Innovating Mobility with Sedona Dave – All Terrain Cane & Urban Xplorer

Host: Sam Seavey
Guest: Sedona Dave, founder of Werewolf Gear
Release Date: September 30, 2024

Overview

In this episode, Sam Seavey interviews Sedona Dave, the innovative mind behind Werewolf Gear, which produces the All Terrain Cane (ATC) and the new Urban Explorer (UX) cane for blind and visually impaired people. The episode sees two conversations: the first (recorded in 2023) focuses on the inspiration and design philosophy behind the ATC, and the second (2024) discusses the development, features, and real-world impact of the Urban Explorer. Across both, Dave explains his hands-on approach to solving issues he encountered as a cane user—blending personal experience, technical ingenuity, and a touch of humor while talking about mobility aid innovation.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

The Inspiration and Development of the All Terrain Cane

[01:13 – 08:25]

• Origin Story:

  • Dave describes struggling on a hiking trail as dusk fell, completely losing contrast and depth perception, leading to disorientation and injury.
  • His frustration spurred the idea: “I need something, but I don't know what this is. But this is what's going to keep me safe on the trails.” [01:37 – Dave]
  • Initial research led him to trekking poles, but he knew these alone weren’t suitable.
  • The solution emerged through multiple prototypes and field-testing in his “laboratory”—his garage.

• Design Philosophy:

  • Fusion of a trekking pole’s ruggedness with essential mobility cane features.
  • Quote: “For lack of a better explanation, it’s the child of a trekking pole and a blind cane.” [03:37 – Sam]
  • Dave likens its origin to, “A trekking pole and a mobility cane met one night at a bar. It's beautiful.” [03:48 – Dave]

• Key Features:

  • Durability and Materials:
    • Built for extreme robustness, constructed from titanium for lightness and strength, with stainless steel joints for longevity.
    • Designed to withstand full body weight, even on unstable surfaces like sand [04:03–06:13].
  • Handle:
    • Extended grip (16") with a golf-style handle, allowing users to “choke up” for climbs or use as a ski pole grip for descents.
    • Adjustable with a “flip lock” mechanism—easy to operate for blind users: “It’s very binary. It’s okay. Now it's open… and now it's locked.” [04:44–05:47 – Dave]
  • Length Adjustability:
    • Expands from 51" to 62” for user flexibility.
  • Tip:
    • Outfitted with a standard 2" rolling ball tip optimized for traversing sand, gravel, and rough terrain.
    • Comes in vibrant colors (yellow, sherbet pink, red orange) for added personality: “Why not bling it up a little bit?” [06:51–07:41 – Dave]

• Real-World Flexibility:

  • Users can adjust the length on the move, making it suitable for both hiking and urban use.
  • Sam: “I like the flexibility of being able to put it whatever height I like.” [07:42 – Sam]
  • Dave: “We just need the right tools and we could be anywhere we want to be.” [08:03 – Dave]

All Terrain Cane vs. Urban Explorer: Evolving Mobility Solutions

[08:31 – 20:52]

• Urban Explorer Origins:

  • The Urban Explorer (UX) emerged as a response to feedback and Dave’s own insights after the ATC launch.
  • Designed for those who need a “kid sister” to the All Terrain Cane—something more compact, lighter, and city-friendly.
  • “It just congealed in my head: A smaller version of the ATC. That's where the concept came.” [11:24 – Dave]
  • “Why would I need something that strong in the city? Well, it's a jungle in there.” [10:37 – Dave]

• Design Advancement:

  • Major emphasis on reducing weight and increasing portability for everyday urban use.
  • Smaller Folded Size:
    • Folds smaller to fit backpacks or purses.
  • Lighter Build:
    • Redesigned joints and swapped steel cable for a bungee system, shaving 2 ounces off the final product.
    • Quick field repairs possible—a key improvement for city use.
  • Extendable Grip:
    • Retained, but now with a 6" instead of 11" extension due to its popularity: “That's a cornerstone. That's not going anywhere.” [14:01 – Dave]
    • Identified as a “legacy feature” and signature of Werewolf Gear canes.
  • Strength and Safety:
    • Maintains high strength for both vertical (weight-bearing) and lateral (trip, stumble) stress, critical for navigating urban “hazards” like catch basins, cobblestones, and belligerent pedestrians.

• Quality Over Speed:

  • Dave delayed production rather than release an imperfect product: “Please get mad at me. I'm the reason why it's delayed... because it was too heavy. It wasn't right. It wasn't good enough to release to market.” [14:48–15:21 – Dave]
  • “I'm just super picky and it really does need to meet my standards of weight, of performance, of strength.” [15:29 – Dave]

• Repairability & User-Friendliness:

  • Bungee system allows for DIY repairs—a necessity given how common bungee failures are: “Being able to repair it if you need to... that's an important feature to have.” [17:34 – Sedona/Sam]
  • Maintenance kits already underway; joint and shaft maintenance a company priority.

Memorable Quotes and Notable Moments

• Dave’s “Eureka” Moment:

  • “The sun's gone. I can't see. I don't have any contrast. I mean, I'm hurting myself. I don't belong here. I need something… I need this, but I don't know what this is.” [01:49 – Dave]

• On Tool Personality:

  • “These are our tools we use every day. Let's put a little bit of personality into them.” [07:38 – Sam]

• City Survival:

  • “It's a jungle in there… belligerent people who really don't want us there. I hate to bring that up, but they are there and they don't like our canes.” [10:37 – Dave]

• On User Standards:

  • “It wasn't right for me. I mean, it was super strong, but it was just too heavy and I wouldn't have that.” [14:37 – Dave]

• Repair Kit Jokes:

  • (On cane maintenance): “A Werewolf Gear brand crochet hooks.” [18:16 – Dave]; “Werewolf Gear cane repair kit. Coming soon.” [18:37–18:42 – Dave/Sedona]

Listener Questions & Community Response

[19:09 – 20:52]

• Community feedback rapidly shapes development; Urban Explorer garnered more than 5,000 YouTube views in its first week, with strong demand.
• Sam and Dave joke about product roadmaps and next ideas, with Dave humorously declaring, “I'm going to sleep. I'm going to Disneyland for real at this point.” [19:25 – Dave]

Where to Learn More

[20:01 – 20:52]

• All products, including canes, tips, repair kits, and merchandise, are available at aWerewolfGear.com.

Takeaways

• Innovation is driven by user need as much as design inspiration.
• Durability, adaptability, and style are integral in modern mobility aids for the blind.
• User feedback, self-repairability, and continuous improvement are at the heart of Werewolf Gear’s ethos.
• “We just need the right tools and we could be anywhere we want to be.” – Dave [08:03]

Timestamps of Key Segments

• Origin of All Terrain Cane & Personal Story:
  [01:13 – 03:37]
• Design Features, Materials, and Practical Use:
  [03:37 – 08:25]
• Transition to Urban Explorer: Inspiration and City Hazards:
  [08:31 – 11:49]
• Key Innovations, Reducing Weight, and Field Repairability:
  [11:49 – 18:16]
• Jokes, Repair Kits, and Closing Reflections:
  [18:16 – 21:23]

This engaging episode covers not only the technical evolution of modern canes for the blind, but also the community spirit and real-life problem-solving that drives lasting innovation. For anyone interested in independence, design, or adaptive technologies, Sedona Dave’s approach is deeply inspiring, practical, and refreshingly candid.