Traveling light, packing right.

• Position: WHAT'S NEW? - Product/service evaluation

"We see travel as intensified living--maximum thrills per minute and one of the last great sources of legal adventure. Travel is freedom, and good travel does not need to be expensive," says Rick Steves, founder of Europe Through the Back Door, Inc., Edmonds, Wash., whose line of travel gear offers new alternatives to traveling light and packing right. Items that caught our attention were the Drop-Bottom Duffel and Veloce Travel Pack, each $79.95. Let's first talk details on the Drop-Bottom, which is ideal for all you just-get-up-and-go travelers:

Your Choice: If you don't care for backpacks and aren't ready for wheals, this over-the-shoulder bag could be right up your alley.

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Get It Together: This 12" x 12" x 21" bag combines light weight (less than three pounds) with a natural knack for organizing.

Keep Them Apart: Two separate 12" x 21" main compartments (7 1/2" and 4 1/2" deep) lets you keep items completely apart--perfect for when you're carrying a mix of clean and dirty clothes, extra shoes, etc. Each compartment includes a pair of internal compression straps.

Open Wide: A big U-shaped lid (with inner mesh pocket) gives you top-to-bottom access to the 1,900 cubic-inch main compartment. A perimeter zipper pops open the entire 2,100 cubic-inch, structured bottom compartment.

Pocket Science: The clever 16" x 8" side panel pocket (with organizers) is long enough for your rolled-up newspaper, umbrella, or end-to-end guidebooks. There's even a handy clip-in security pouch.

Easy Hauling: It comes with a comfy and adjustable contourpadded over-the-shoulder strap as well as padded grab handles on each end and a padded main carry-strap handle.

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Good Stuff: Constructed with top-quality, water and stain-resistant high-density polyester, and featuring a reinforced underside, this duffel is tough enough for the most frequent flier.

Carry On?: If your...