Suitcases catch up with the times

It's been a year since American Airlines started charging passengers for their first checked bag, a move almost every other major U.S. airline quickly followed. It's taken almost that long for the luggage industry to catch up to that unfortunate new reality.

But it was worth the wait. Consider the standard 21-inch wheeled bag, the carry-on of choice for anyone trying to avoid checked-luggage fees. Not since Travelpro introduced the first Rollaboard in 1987 have there been so many changes in its design.

The post-fee models feature all kinds of compelling innovations, including larger, more-durable wheels, the use of lightweight materials and clever designs that let you stuff more of your belongings into less space.

But what to buy — and when? Luggage sales dropped by 21 percent last year on sales of $1.8 billion, according to the Travel Goods Association, which represents manufacturers and retailers of travel products. That probably means there'll be some attractive deals on this new, must-have luggage.

Answering the "what" question is not as easy. I've been evaluating the best of the new wheeled bags, and I'm hard-pressed to declare a winner. In fact, most luggage experts I consulted with agreed on two things: There is no one-size-fits all wheeled bag and quality matters.

"You don't need to buy a $600 suitcase," says Michael Hess, the chief executive of business luggage manufacturer Skooba Design. "But you shouldn't be too cheap either. In this business, like many, you absolutely get what you pay for, and cheaply made bags will simply not hold up."

Before I get to the candidates, I wanted to give a shout out to two pre-fee bags that I'm in love with. The first is the Helen Rae wheeled bag. Yeah, I know, it's for women, but it's so maneuverable and fun to use, and I'm secure enough in my manhood to fly with one. The other is LowePro Rolling CompuTrekker Plus, which can accommodate my laptop, camera, lenses and a change of clothes. Plus, it rolls like a dream on oversized skate wheels. Both of these bags were ahead of their time.

Some new options:

• If looks mean a lot to you, you have to check out the Travelpro Platinum 6. This bag is pure eye candy, with ample chrome and big wheels that seem to beg for custom rims. There's also room for an oversized laptop computer and the inside organizes smartly. My favorite feature is an extension handle that goes up to 43 inches — so tall guys like me don't have to hunch over when we're walking through the terminal.

• For hard-core adventure travelers who travel with a laptop, I can't think of a better wheeled bag than the Pelican 1510 Laptop Overnight Case. I'm fairly certain this waterproof, crush-proof, dustproof luggage would survive a plane crash; It feels like a rolling bank vault. At nearly 14 pounds, it isn't light, but then, none of the other carry-ons have an automatic pressure-equalization valve or an O-ring seal.

• If you're looking for something adaptable, your bag's the Travelon wheeled carry-on. I tested the 20-inch version, and really liked the way its design tried to accommodate the limited space in an overhead compartment, as opposed to trying to wedge a square design into a rounded space. The polypropylene back panel made this among the lightest but sturdiest bags I tested.

• The Halliburton 21-inch polycarbonate Zero Roller is a guy's version of the Helen Rae carry-on. Its sleek, black design is an eye-pleaser, and its four-wheeled construction makes it exceptionally easy to push around. For extra security, there's a combination lock on the zipper. But my favorite Zero feature is a compartment just below the handle that holds tickets and valuables. How nifty.

The Travel Troubleshooter column runs weekly at seattletimes.com/travel and occasionally in print.