New luggage gets lighter and more mobile

Since carryon restrictions have become so tight, you may find yourself stuffing more into your checked luggage. As a result, travelers often shop for larger and lighter bags these days, especially because the weight restriction for checked baggage was reduced to 50 pounds from 70. That’s prompted luggage manufacturers to reinvent the wheel—in some cases, literally.

The Swany Walking Bag (swanyamerica.com) has four independent wheels that allow it to swivel 360 degrees, so travelers can glide it alongside, in front of or behind them. Swany’s “Smart Cart” carry-on is equipped with a built-in seat that folds down to accommodate up to 300 pounds. The Samsonite Spinner has four multidirectional wheels, allowing upright movement in any direction. Manufacturers have been rolling out luggage in bright colors and eye-catching designs, too—not only as a fashion statement, but also to be more recognizable on a carousel full of black bags. Some bags now come with Transportation Security Administration–approved locks, enabling TSA personnel to open them with a special key. Some Ricardo bags have a built-in digital scale that weighs the bag, so you know how much to pack. The Boom Bag (boombags.com) carry-on sports an integrated stereo amplifi er and speakers with a subwoofer mounted between the rails of the handle, so it has almost no impact on the packing space. The separate microphone input allows you to balance live narration with prerecorded sound for presentations. Here are some other luggage Web sites for your shopping convenience: packinglight.net, luggageresource.com, 1800luggage.com, pathfinderluggage. com, luggageguru.com, ebags.com, hideostore.com.