Luggage With Four-Wheel Drive

By CHARLES PASSY

January 12, 2007; Page W7

If the new year finds you pulled in too many directions, take heart. These days, your suitcase can follow along.

Lately, more luggage manufacturers have unveiled "spinner" bags that promise greater maneuverability. Instead of the usual two wheels, spinners have four on the bottom that can turn 360 degrees. Just like regular rolling suitcases, they can be tipped backwards and pulled -- but they can also be kept upright and rolled in any direction, making them particularly useful in tight spots. Pushing the bag sideways, for one, can come in handy in a narrow airplane aisle.

Best Overall:
Atlantic Graphite Lite

Do four wheels really double the fun -- or at least the usefulness? We ordered five carry-on-sized models to find out. (Many domestic airlines require that carry-ons have a combined length, height and width of 45 inches or less.) To recreate the crowded maze of a modern-day airport, we ran each bag through an obstacle course of traffic cones, over both carpet and tile.

For the most part, the bags lived up to the hype. All of the models were easier to maneuver than the two-wheeler we added to the test. One disadvantage: A bag on four wheels also has a tendency to go with the flow, which could be a problem if you're standing on a slanted surface. Don't plan on letting go of the handle.

The real differences came in the features that distinguish all suitcases from one another, from handles with gel grips to interior pockets. The better models had more options and accessories, plus a little style.

How we shopped: We visited more than 10 online retailers, mostly luggage specialists, and looked for carry-on spinners that were top-sellers, had high ratings by the site or offered interesting features. To compare prices, we looked at shopping.yahoo.com and shop.com.