In this month’s Travel News, Rick discusses the pros and cons of various types of luggage.
Within the category of wheeled cases, he favors the four-wheel setup over the two-wheel because of its ease of handling, noting that pulling a four-wheeled bag is easier than “pulling a two-wheeled bag, which doesn't roll unless you're bearing some of its weight”. This is true. Or is it?
What if you could shift the balance point of the two-wheeler so that it is stable at the angle at which it is pulled? Then the handle would feel weightless and pulling would not include lifting. Simple to do this: hang your second item -- cosmetic case, handbag, backpack, whatever, off the front of the big bag. The bag will immediately fall forward, unless you take care to push it against a wall or furniture when you park it. But the magic happens while you’re on the move: suddenly the bag balances on its wheels without your having to “bear the weight”.
Better living through physics.