We typically write about strategies to smooth the hassles of apartment living, but if, like many New Yorkers, you're hours away from boarding a plane out of the city, you're probably bracing yourself for some serious travel headaches. Thus, one local luggage maker is developing a product with a lofty goal: "To make travel pleasant again." Trunkster is a new kind of suitcase, still in the prototype stage, that promises to make the old wheelie bag more useful.

With a waterproof "rolltop door," the suitcase makes do without zippers and is designed to roll next to you, rather than behind. Both the 7.9-pound carry-on or 9.9-pound checked versions come with built-in digital scales to help you avoid last-minute charges at airport check-in, and the smaller model also has a USB charger to boot up your electronics on the go.

So far, the makers of Trunskter have raised more than half a million dollars through Kickstarter--about 10 times their goal--and are knocking about $200 off the retail price for contributors. You can get the carry-on model for a contribution of $285 or the checked version for $10 more. (For an extra $40, you can add a GPS feature that tracks your Trunkster, apparently with the same technology as Apple's "Find My Mac" feature.)

This year, however, we're afraid you'll have to make do with your beat-up old suitcase, since the Trunksters are scheduled to arrive sometime next summer.