It totally changes all the time, that is the main thing for me. A soft flogger can feel like a nice massage. Or if it's got some energy behind the swing it can have a bit of thud, or if snapped at the ends can have some sting. But if made of soft leather it's not going to be really painful. Floggers made from thinner cords or stiffer hurt more with less effort.

Canes- I don't know, we don't have one.