The Perfect Carry-On? Level8 Suitcase Review
As an avowed carry-on ONLY travel girl – unless a check-in bag is absolutely necessary – I am forever looking for the best carry-on suitcase. So I decided to try out a company I had heard a fair amount about: Level8.
Specifically, the Level8 Luminous Textured 20” Carry-On.
Disclaimer: Lose the Map contains affiliate links and is a member of Amazon Services LLC Associates Program. If you make a purchase through an affiliate link, I receive a small commission at no extra cost to you.
Disclosure: I was gifted the Level8 suitcase by the company, but they were very explicit that I only needed to do one thing. Say what I think about it, no matter how good or bad. And as long-time readers know, I don’t endorse anything I don’t use and believe in.
In fact, I asked for a one-month extension for this article and got it, as some travel plans were shifted around and I wanted to really test my Level8 suitcase “in the field” so to speak before I wrote anything about it.
My old carry-on suitcases had achieved an exceptional level of wear and tear after being carted around mountains and cobblestone streets and thrown onto trains and whatever else the poor things have suffered through after being attached to me all these years. So given my somewhat more adventurous style of travel, I wanted something that would be, above all, durable.
But still looks sleek. Because that’s the trade-off I’ve usually faced while suitcase shopping. Most suitcases are either hardy or stylish.
With my Level8 carry-on suitcase, I finally got both.
Level8 Luminous Carry-On Suitcase: The Basics
I picked the 20” carry-on suitcase. But as I will explain below, Level8 offers alternative carry-on and checked baggage sizes.
There is also a smaller size. However, 20” fits into almost every overhead cabin I have come across, even for most budget airlines. And since I prefer carry-on only, I’d like to fit in as much as possible.
Size: 14.5” L * 9.2” W * 21.5” H (37 cm * 23.4cm * 55 cm)
Carrying Capacity: 40 L
Weight: 7.7 lbs (3.5 kilos)
Features:
- 3-step aluminum telescopic handle
- Durable, ultra-quiet 360° spinner wheels with anti-shock design
- TSA-compliant combination lock
- Zipper pockets, with one able to hold wet items (or toiletries you’d rather not have spill onto your clothes)
- Polycarbonate hard shell material
All Possible Sizes:
Ease of Use
The quiet wheels and comfortable handle make the Level8 Luminous Carry-On a pretty easy suitcase to fall in love with. It rolled right alongside me at the airport, easily came up potholed inclines with me, and was light enough to shove into overhead compartments.
I will say, one bonus aspect I appreciated and hadn’t thought of much before was the relatively low level of noise it made when I was wheeling it across uneven surfaces.
It’s always felt a little annoying to have to hear suitcase wheels banging over cobblestone alleyways. Not to mention the embarrassment of drawing literally every passerby’s attention. Might as well wear a sign reading, “HI, TOURIST HERE TO DISRUPT YOUR PEACE”.
Obviously, you still hear the suitcase rolling over such surfaces, but nowhere near the amount of clattering I got with previous suitcases. Which felt like a much more peaceful experience.
Packing: The Fit
What I need most from a carry-on is the ability to fit things. Which my Level8 suitcase most definitely did.
The design maximizes the space available, unlike other suitcases which have such a thick shell or ribbed interior that they end up fitting 20% less than they should.
One of the best parts of the Luminous Carry-On – especially for summer travel – is that it has two different zip-up pockets. I used these zip-up pockets for items I wanted easy access to – chargers, papers, etc. – and then for some dirty laundry items, like underwear, on the return home, so they wouldn’t be with all my other clothing.
Level8 Suitcase Durability
My Level8 Luminous Carry-On got thrown onto small ferries, rolled over both cobblestone and potholed streets on a Greek island, knocked around in the trunk of my car during an extended road trip, and opened on the floor of at least five different rooms across Greece.
Because for trips less than a week long, my suitcase functions as my closet. No, I’m not taking everything out to hang it up, thanks.
Despite that all, it still looks absolutely stunning. More importantly, it’s clear that the wheels (and other mechanisms) of the suitcase can take their hits and still keep rolling.
The company emphasizes that the suitcase is designed with a durable polycarbonate shell to make it resilient when being taken around the world. Level8 actually believes in the design’s endurance so much that Level8 offers a lifetime warranty that covers the shell, wheels, handles, and zippers.
In other words, “putting their money where their mouth is” in company speak.
The only potential drawback of this is that the Level8 Luminous Carry-On does weigh about a pound more than some other carry-on brands of the same size. If you regularly fly an airline that is obsessive about weight checking, this may affect your packing.
But for me, it’s worth the trade-off. Plus, in all my travels, including 20-35 flights a year, I’ve only had my carry-on bag weighed twice.
Luminous Textured Carry-On: The Looks
Obviously I had to get the suitcase in a shade of my favorite color: navy. There are six color options, plus alternative designs.
I was torn between the Level8 Luminous Carry-On and the Adventure Carry-On for a while; but I ultimately decided that while I slightly preferred the design of the Adventure option, the Luminous Carry-On worked equally well for personal/adventurous trips and business trips where I wanted the whole look to be more professional.
Personally, I loved most of the different style and color options. Most of all, because the designs look quite sleek and stylish in their own way, but the range still allows you to pick the suitcase that matches your taste/travel style the best.
Safe and Secure: How Level8 Protects You
I’ve had more than one traveling friend tell me a story of arriving at their hotel, only to open up their bag and find some valuable items – or even not so valuable items – missing. It sucks to get your stuff stolen. It sucks more to get it stolen in another country.
If you do decide to check in your Level8 suitcase, or even if you’re just leaving it with everyone else’s luggage in another part of the ship/train you’re on, it’s good to know that only you know the combination to your suitcase’s lock.
Obviously, it isn’t a foolproof method, as a potential thief can still break open your suitcase or take the whole thing with them. But those are usually harder options to pursue. And most people looking to steal things will go for the easier option.
For me, it provided an extra piece of mind. Not only did I have electronics components I really didn’t want to lose; my last trip was to shoot on location, and it required very specific wardrobe items I had brought with me. While getting those items stolen wouldn’t be a huge monetary loss, it would have created a huge hassle on set. And jeopardized my future working relationship with the people who hired me.
Level8 Suitcase Alternative Options
If you have a more adventurous travel style, or are a content creator, or like your suitcases to appear premium (looking at you, business travelers), Level8 has a range of options. Here are some of the alternatives I was looking at [note for company: Amazon affiliate links will be inserted here]:
- Adventure Carry-On
- Front side-lid opening
- Wide trolley system
- Expandable (just unzip)
- Road Runner Carry-On (honestly, may still buy this as well)
- Laptop pocket
- USB ports to charge on the go
- Upgraded zipper for better protection against water and dust
- Gibraltar Aluminum Carry-On
- Aerospace-grade aluminum magnesium alloy
- Ultra quiet wheels
- Zipperless design
There are many more of course. But these were my other top contenders.
Level8 Suitcase Final Verdict
To sum it all up, for those of you considering getting the Level8 20″ Luminous Textured Carry-On (or any other Level8 suitcase):
Pros:
- Incredibly durable (with a lifetime warranty)
- Very spacious while still adhering to carry-on limits (yes, even Ryanair’s!)
- Cool, sleek design
- Less noisy than other suitcases
Cons:
- Weighs slightly more than some other carry-on suitcases of the same size
- Some options can be pricier than other brands (though mine was under $200, which seems like a sweet deal considering the warranty)
For people who travel often and prefer carry-on, I 100% recommend getting a Level8 suitcase. I’ve fallen in love with it so far and can’t wait to take it with me on all my upcoming adventures around the world.
I’ve had suitcases cracked and broken by airlines, falling apart at the seams, or just generally being a nuisance to navigate on anything that isn’t smooth indoor flooring.
The Level8 Luminous Carry-On’s durability and warranty makes me less worried about what might happen with a less-than-careful baggage handler. The hard shell that absorbs wear and tear means my suitcase will look good for much longer. And the quiet wheels, a feature that I really didn’t pay much attention to before I got the suitcase, honestly made all the difference in the world in how I navigated the areas I was transiting through and visiting.
At the end of the day, you want something that will make your travels as peaceful, easy, and hassle-free as possible. Plus…last a lifetime.
What’s been your favorite piece of travel luggage so far? Let me know in the comments!
