A wheely great trip.

• Position: What's New? - Maestro suitcases - Brief Article

* Traveling can be a great experience except for the major annoyances that accompany it. Number one on our list is the entire airport hassle, compounded no end recently by the understandable post-Sept. 11 security delays. A close second is wrestling unwieldy suitcases through terminals, along train platforms, across hotel lobbies, or up ship ramps. The person who first put wheels on luggage was obviously on the right track, but it didn't take long for them to break down for a variety of reasons, with airline baggage handlers the prime suspect in this case. Moreover, even if they were not damaged en route, the wheels never quite performed as advertised.

Those days can be put behind us, thanks to the maestros at Maestro Luggage Inc., Carson, Calif., and their patented Tri-Wheel System. The trick was to put three wheels around a central hub so that they rotate as the suitcase is pulled or pushed. This produces a ride comparable to an independent suspension on an auto and allows the suitcase to roll over bumps, curbs, and other irregular surfaces with the utmost ease and a minimum of jolting, saving the contents as well as wrists, shoulders, and other parts of the anatomy that suffer from such motion. Moreover, the wheels are designed to be quickly replaceable or repairable in case any of them become damaged or worn down.

If that was all the advantages, the Maestro bags would be wonderful, but there is much more to sing their praises over. The square handle is self-locking when extended and it nestles completely out of sight when retracted; each bag is expandable to allow for overpacking or an abundance of shopping on a trip; the zippers are self-repairing so they never split open; molded corners resist abuse; and a bottom extension provides stability when the case is standing erect. Meanwhile, a plethora of pockets makes storage abundant, with four front pockets, inside mesh ones with string closures so clothes can breathe, a detachable utility pouch, and shoe holders.

Maestro suitcases come in a variety of colors (black, navy, forest green, and bright red), the latter our favorite since it is so easy to spot on the baggage carousel. We find the 29" upright ($150-200) and 20" carry-on ($100-150) more than sufficient for virtually any trip. The entire line can be found in better luggage stores.

Vacation aches and pains in the arms, shoulder, and back also are a thing of the past because we no longer have to lug around an overstuffed suitcase...