CLEVER WRINKLES CAN BE FOUND IN THIS YEAR'S LUGGAGE OPTIONS.

Byline: Eric Noland Travel Editor

Versatility and adaptability are the watchwords for the hottest-selling luggage pieces this winter season. Whether you're buying a last-minute gift or splurging for your own holiday trip, you'll find pockets, pouches, wheels, backpack straps, hand straps, wheeling handles - sometimes all on the same bag.

Frequent fliers will tell you that there are only two kinds of luggage: carry-on and lost. But the robust economy and Internet bookings have resulted in many more planes running at passenger capacity, and the airlines in turn have cracked down on the number and size of items they'll let you carry onto a plane.

Luggage manufacturers have struck back, designing some bags that double as office organizers and clothes carriers, others that have detachable day packs. But most every item hits those magic carry-on dimensions of 22 inches in height, 14 inches in width.

In many instances, the luggage pieces can be wheeled, slung over your shoulder, hoisted onto your back, carried by a handle - whatever your particular travel circumstances call for.

A few of the more intriguing items on the market this season:

Latitude 22 Switchback, Eagle Creek ($260): As long as you don't pack it too fat, it will conform to most airlines' carry-on templates.

But the most compelling feature is one that will hold down your number of carry-on items without crimping your flexibility when you reach your destination: This thing has a pouch that contains a detachable day pack. Slip it out, pack it with a few essential items and you're off for a picnic, a museum crawl or a hike.

The luggage piece itself also has hide-away backpack straps, so if you're somewhere that is not particularly friendly to wheeled bags, you have another option for lugging it.

``If you're in Paris and you're taking the Metro, there are a lot of steps going up and down,'' said Suzanne Snyder, manager of the Rand McNalley Map & Travel Store in Century City. ``If you have conventional luggage, you have to carry it or roll it or drag it down the stairs. With this, you can just pull your backpack straps out and put it on your back.''

Eagle Creek's Latitude series also includes a number of expandable bags, which can afford welcomed adaptability on a trip. On your outbound leg, you can carry a 20- or 22-incher onto the plane. Then, after you've picked up several acquisitions during the course of your trip, you can expand the bag to accommodate them and check it for the flight home.

WebGeneral, Victorinox ($350): From the efficiency whizzes who brought you the Swiss Army Knife, this is the ideal bag for a business trip of one or two nights.

One side of the bag is an office organizer, with room for a laptop computer, computer accessories, cell phone or files. The other side is a compartment for clothes, and includes a removable garment carrier. All of this in a bag that is 21-by-14-by-10 inches.

And here is a particularly clever feature: The laptop case is self- contained and detachable. That way, if you have to board a plane late, the overhead space is maxed out and the flight attendants insist that your bag be taken off the flight and checked, you can easily remove the most valuable item in it - your computer - and have it protected by a padded case when you slip it under the seat in front of you.

The WebGeneral is constructed of heavy black nylon and almost looks like a stylish briefcase on wheels, such that you won't be embarrassed if you have to wheel it into a meeting on your day of departure.

Another Victorinox piece that is popular with business travelers is the Communications Mobilizer ($335), which is kind of a rolling office, with a fan folder for files. It, too, has a removable laptop sleeve.

Big Mouth Duffel, Kiva ($99.95): OK, not everybody has to look smart and professional on a trip. This has more of the college student look, with a lot of external pockets and handles, but one of its best features is a top that pops open like the old doctor bags - hence its name. This gives you a view of all four corners of the bag, a welcome departure from the traditional duffel that has only a zipper across the top.

If you've got a more extensive expedition planned - and don't even want to think about outfoxing the carry-on templates - you can opt for the Rolling Big Mouth ($199). It is a moose, with 5,400 cubic inches of internal space, a sturdy frame on the bottom and, mercifully, wheels.

Eagle Creek's counterpart is the Monster Trunk ($275), which has a horseshoe-shaped zipper to ease packing.

World Laptop Backpack, JanSport ($130): The company that outfitted millions of teen-age students with backpacks is no dummy. Many of those kids have now found their way into the workplace. Their needs may have changed, but they still recognize a familiar and proven product name.

This item can work for either a young business professional or a student. ``It has straps, but it also has wheels, so maybe it will save young people from future back trouble,'' said Louanne Kalvinskas of Distant Lands in Pasadena, one of the finest travel stores in Southern California. ``It has a computer bag inside. It also has a long handle, so you don't have to hunch over to pull it.''

Snyder, of the Century City Rand McNalley store, said, ``It can be a little business bag on wheels, but what I like about it (is) you can use it as a weekend bag.''

Parent Survival Pack, Eagle Creek ($60): Ask any new dad: One of the worst things about having to lug the baby bag is that it often looks like one - perhaps a light-yellow in color with little pink bunnies all over it. Here is a baby bag that the new papa won't have to throw his jacket over when the family strolls by a rugby game in the park.

It's got pouches, pockets, bottle-holders, a changing pad inside, and a zip-tight waterproof section for clothing that has been subjected to an accident. But it's a sturdy nylon backpack, and the available colors are black, dark blue and maroon.

As for versatility, this bag takes into account the fact that you never know when you're going to be carrying a child on your back, leading him by the hand or cradling her in your arms. Accordingly, this pack comes with shoulder strap, hand-carry strap and hideaway backpack straps.

INFORMATION:

--Eagle Creek, [phone], www.eaglecreek.com.

--Victorinox (Swiss Army), [phone], www.swissarmy.com.

--JanSport, [phone], www.jansport.com.

--Kiva, [phone], www.kivadesigns.com.

CAPTION(S):

3 photos, box

Photo:

(1 -- color) Fold-out garment carriers, such as this one on a Briggs & Riely bag, contribute to luggage versatility.

(2 -- 3 -- color) Eagle Creek's Monstter Trunk, left, can be carried or pulled while Swiss Army's Communications Mobilizer, below, has a detachable lap bag.

John Lazar/Staff Photographer

Box: Information (see text)