We’re always in search of new luggage to make travel pain-free. Level8 is a smart luggage brand that manages to do just that, thanks to their thoughtfully designed suitcases. We’ve been traveling with the brand’s suitcases for two years and have tested their hard-side ones.
As frequent travelers and writers, we’re fortunate enough to try out many suitcases. Over the years, Level8 has been one of the few suitcase brands that have stood out. We love the luggage so much that we frequently reach for our Level8 cases outside of testing new gear in our daily travels.
Level8 Cases — Suitcase Review
Level8 Cases Brand
Level8 is a luggage designer that crafts hardshell suitcases and other bags, such as the Atlas Commuter Laptop Bag. They offer a well-rounded line of hard-sided suitcases with smart features and practical design choices.
They also look sharp with bold accent features such as a practical oversized handle or branded rolling wheels. All Level8 suitcases include a lifetime warranty that covers functional damage that impairs luggage use.
The Suitcases
With a nice selection of stylish hard-sided suitcases, we’ve selected a few standouts for testing. The line of suitcases spans 20″ carry-on cases to 28″ checked luggage. While testing out their line, we’ve found every suitcase is of great value, offering excellent quality at a competitive price. We have no doubt you can find a cheaper suitcase online or at a discount store, but it’s unlikely it would offer better quality.
Voyageur Check-In
Our first suitcase from Level8 was the Voyageur check-in luggage. It quickly became a popular choice in our rotation of travel luggage. The Voyageur is beautifully designed with Bayer Makrolon material, ensuring it is lightweight and scratch-resistant. We’ve taken the bag on multiple long-haul trips, and it shows no signs of wear and tear.
The hardshell bag has a large handle design, making it seamless to navigate all airports. This wide trolley system is one of the first we have seen. It allows extra packing space and offers stability when wheeling the bag around. A TSA-approved lock and durable 360° Spinner Wheels with an anti-shock design are features we appreciate.
The interior allows for quite a bit of luggage and has one fully lined interior with two large clothing compartments. There are two zippered areas that I use for a few toiletries. We love the wet/dry separation for beach vacations and dirty clothes.
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Luminous Textured Carry-On
The Luminous Textured Carry-on Suitcase is one of our favorite selections from the Level8 line. At 20″, it adheres to international carry-on regulations, which saves some frustration, as some brands designed for the American market are too large for international regulations (21″ vs. 22″).
The bag features a telescopic handle, top and side handles, four dual wheels, a TSA lock, and internal storage. Its features are well made, particularly around high-stress pieces that frequently fail on other bags. Internally, it features a high-quality lining with simple organization and doesn’t reduce the bag’s space.
Compared to other bags with Level8, its most notable feature is the textured Makrolon® polycarbonate exterior shell. The bag’s texture allows it to resist scuffs more effectively and adds a nice non-slip function. We often find the fabric material in the rear trunks of rental cars, which means our bags slide around, but with the texture material, it remains in place.
For the price, it’s one of the best value bags we’ve come across in our travels. It sits firmly in the mid-range of bags and delivers great quality. We firmly believe it will outlast the lifespan of multiples of cheaper bags.
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Elements of a Level8 Suitcase
Shell
The exterior shell is any bag’s most important material and design choice. Most Level8 bags utilize a German-made Makrolon® polycarbonate hard shell material. This ensures the bags remain lightweight and tough, and the thickness of the material allows for a larger packing volume.
We’ve traveled extensively with the Voyageur for over two years, and the shell remains in good shape. It’s also worth noting that polycarbonate shells retain strength in the event of a failure. That way, you won’t have to purchase a new bag while traveling should the worst happen.
Wheels
We believe you can always tell the quality of a suitcase by looking at the wheels. Level8’s wheels across their line are recessed into the bag with 360-degree dual spinner wheels coated in rubber. The result is a tough wheel that can observe bumps while rolling smoothly. The wheels can also resist impacts, which is common when handled at the airport. We’ve seen belt systems destroy many cheaply made bags.
Handles
The extra-large handle of the Voyageur series is a surprisingly nice feature. It handles the weight of our checked luggage well, and as the telescopic handles enter the outer edges of the bag, it avoids the classic interior bump in the middle of many suitcases.
Even the more traditional handles of the bags in their line, such as the textured carry-on, operate reliably. The handle moves up and down smoothly and locks into place without fail.
Internal Organization
We love an internal organization that aids the functionality of a bag but doesn’t get bogged down by too many features. Most Level8 suitcases feature wet/dry internal zip dividers and multiple pockets to organize small personal effects.
Zippers/TSA Lock
As with almost everything on the bag, the zippers and TSA-compliant locks are of excellent quality. In all our testing, we never found the zippers difficult to move, and they’ve reliably held the bags shut. The seams on the bags are sturdy and show no signs of wear after extended use. We’ve traveled extensively with a Voyageur Check-In, showing no signs of wear after 50+ flights.
Suitcase Tips
Luggage Size
The two best luggage sizes are 20″ and 26. The 20″ is the best size to adhere to international carry-on requirements. While the 26″ is not as intuitive, we find it is the perfect size to still meet most airlines’ weight requirements. A larger bag may often fit more clothes, but the result is usually a bag that is too heavy not to be classified as an overweight bag.
Color Preference
Level8 makes some lovely suitcases with a nice range of colors. However, we often prefer to choose darker colors for our luggage as they resist abrasions better. The airport bag belts are made from hard black synthetics that leave skid marks on light-colored bags.
Organization
Instead of luggage with endless pockets, packing cubes allow for much more versatility and ease when packing. They separate and organize clothes reliably. You can organize by clothing type, outfits, or color.
It makes finding things a breeze and saves you from always folding and unfolding clothes. A bonus is when unloading the bag, as you don’t have to worry about your clothes touching the dirty floor. Packing cubes make putting your clothes away in dressers a breeze, too.
Word of warning, don’t substitute plastic bags for packing cubes as they trap moisture. The moisture can make for funky clothes, especially in the summer or in humid weather destinations. Level8 makes some great packing cubes sold with suitcases for a discount.
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