This post is sponsored by Level8. The terms of our agreement guarantee
honest reviews of our experience and personal use of their suitcases only.
After years of traveling using cheap suitcases with flimsy plastic wheels, we decided it was time to invest in some new, more reliable luggage.
Our research lead us to Level8 whose quality, product specs, and glowing reviews had us keen on trying out some of their basic luggage line.
The company agreed to send us a few items asking only for an honest review of their products. The follow is our truthful feelings on the items received and how they stacked up with other luggage sets we have used in the past.
You will find the pros and cons, as well as detailed descriptions of all the luggage features to help you decide whether Level8 luggage is worth it for you.
Disclosure: In order to keep providing you with free content, this post likely contains affiliate links. If you make a booking or purchase through one of these links we earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. So a HUGE thank you to you if you click one of these links 🙂
🧳 Is Level8 Luggage Good?
For those who just want a quick answer on our experience with their bags, our honest answer is “heck yea!”
The luggage is sleek, sturdy, aesthetically pleasing, and allocates space incredibly well. The electronics pocket is ideally organized for quick access and maximizing space which is essential for digital nomads like ourselves who travel for work often.
The wheels are the highest quality we have owned, which is important as this is often the first thing to go. We also love the TSA locks that are built in!
✈️ What is Level8 Luggage?
Founded in 2008, Level8 is a New York-based company that focuses on expertly crafting sleek, minimalistic luggage perfect for all travelers.
Their aim is to provide functional and always reliable cases that allow you to focus on your destination rather than the journey. Their product range includes hard shell carry-on and checked suitcases, as well as a few travel accessories such as packing cubes.
You can find Level8 luggage available both on Amazon and directly through their website Level8Cases.com. Each of their products has 4.5 stars or higher, with several thousand reviews per product.
🛒 Shop for luggage: Official Level8 Website | Amazon
💵 Save money! Use the code ‘WeDreamofTravel10‘ at checkout for 10% off your purchase!
🏷 Level8 Luggage Review: Quick Summary
💕 Quick takeaway: We love our Level8 luggage! If you’re looking for stylish, hard-shell luggage with a lot of features, then Level8 luggage is definitely worth it.
We ordered the 24-inch Textured Checked suitcase, as well as two of the Road Runner Carry-On 20-inch cases. These are the suitcases that we will feature within our detailed Level8 luggage review.
We specifically wanted a carry-on bag each that had a dedicated compartment for our laptops. Our preference was a hard shell case as we often carry a lot of photography equipment with us and this will help protect it better.
When packing for Hawaii or other tropical destinations, we typically try to travel with carry-on only so having a high-quality case is essential.
We loved the variety of colors available for the checked luggage and opted for the light blue. The colors for the carry-on luggage with laptop pockets is more limited but this is of little concern as these will remain with us anyway – we’ve not got to spot them amongst a sea of black suitcases on a belt!
Our first impressions far exceeded our expectations. The cases arrived very quickly, within a few days of ordering them.
They were delivered in sturdy boxes and were wrapped in lightweight dust bags, which seems indicative of their attention to detail.
Everything about the cases felt high-end and well-designed. Not only does their sleek, modern design feel elegant, but they are also highly functional.
📋 Level8 Suitcase Review: Pros & Cons
🙂 Quick takeaway: There are far more pros than cons for Level8 luggage.
We will delve into a more in-depth look at all of the different features of Level8’s luggage. However, first, I wanted to provide a quick pros and cons list to help you decide whether Level8 luggage is worth it for your needs.
👍🏽 Pros
- Beautiful, contemporary design in a variety of colors.
- 360° spinner wheels.
- Integrated TSA-approved locks.
- Hard shell provides durability and is easy to wipe clean.
- Multi-step telescopic handle.
- Handles on both tops and sides for easy lifting.
- Multiple sizes available.
- Spacious interior with zippered compartments.
- Laptop pocket on carry on.
- Lifetime warranty that covers any functional damage to the shell, wheels, handles, zippers, or anything else that impairs use of the luggage.
- Free shipping in the USA and Europe.
👎🏽 Cons
- On the more expensive side (although cheaper than some other high-end brands).
- Not expandable.
- Laptop compartment reduces the interior space.
- Clam shell design takes up more space when opened.
- Not as lightweight as some others (9.5lbs for carry-on and 9.8lbs for checked).
- Hard shell likely to scratch easily.
- Externally mounted wheels may snap off.
💵 Save money! Use the code ‘WeDreamofTravel10‘ at checkout for 10% off your purchase!
👩🏽💻 Full Level 8 Luggage Review: Design & Features
🔒 Quick takeaway: Level8 luggage has a lot of functional features that take it beyond a basic suitcase.
Level8 has clearly put a lot of attention into the design and features of their luggage. It is these features that attracted us to this company, and the reason we love our Level8 cases.
While there are cheaper options out there, we’ve found that they don’t offer the same quality or design.
Our favorite features are definitely the integrated locks and laptop sleeves. As we travel with a lot of photography equipment, these features help to reassure us that our belongings are safe as we travel.
Technical Specifications
Road Runner Carry-On 20″ Suitcase
- Dimensions: 14.4” length x 10.1” width x 21.5” height
- Weight: 9.5lbs
- Capacity: 38L
- Material: Polycarbonate shell, polyester lining, aluminum alloy trolley handle.
- Color options: Navy & black.
- Price:
$199.99Sale price $179.99*
- Dimensions: 14.4” length x 10.1” width x 21.5” height
- Weight: 9.8lbs
- Capacity: 65L
- Material: Polycarbonate shell, polyester lining, aluminum alloy trolley handle.
- Color options: Grey, black, navy, light blue, olive, pink, and white.
- Price: $199.99*
*Prices are correct as of December 2023. You can also save 10% with the code WeDreamofTravel10.
Exterior Features
Polycarbonate Hard Shell
The exterior hard-shell is made from “aerospace-grade Germany Makrolon® Polycarbonate”. Admittedly, I don’t know what exactly this means. However, what I can tell you is that it is tough and I’m confident that it will keep our stuff safe!
Level8 boasts anti-scratch surface technology, so I had to test it out. As we’ve yet to check our bag in to really put it to the test, I had to get creative.
I ran a pair of scissors across the surface and it took a reasonable amount of force for any marks to appear, and even then, the textured surface made it very hard to see them.
The shell is also waterproof, providing further peace of mind that our items are safe.
Aesthetics
This may seem a strange feature to include. However, if you’re going to invest money into a good quality luggage set, the chances are that you’ll also want it to look nice!
Level8 aims for simplistic, sleek, and sophisticated designs, all of which I feel they’ve achieved. Their luggage has a simple yet luxurious appearance.
Additionally, we appreciate the range of colors offered for the checked bags (although this is more limited for carry-on).
⭐️ Pro tip: Choose a bright color for checked luggage to make it easier to spot on the baggage carousel. The most common color for suitcases is black. Alternatively, ensure you can identify yours with a luggage tag or strap, or even just some brightly colored ribbon!
360° Spinner Wheels
Having luggage with multi-directional wheels for us is an absolute must. It makes pulling or pushing your luggage along substantially easier.
We’ve found that the wheels glide easily over any surface with little effort required. Our only concern is that the external wheels are at a greater risk of damage. With that said, you’d be hard-pressed to find many modern cases that don’t have external wheels.
TSA Approved Integrated Lock
I have always had bags that could be locked, even when said bag was a backpack. However, I’ve lost count of how many padlocks I’ve lost over the years!
Therefore, having a suitcase with an integrated lock was a huge bonus for me, particularly with the carry-on bag as this is typically where we pack our most high-value items. The Road Runner Carry-On allows both compartments to lock.
A TSA-approved lock allows you to lock your case, while allowing security authorities to inspect them without damage. It is not essential to have a TSA approved lock to travel. However, if security is required to search your luggage, they have the right to cut off any non-approved lock that can cause damage.
It is easy to change the code on the lock, and it comes with full instructions.
Telescopic Handle
The telescopic handle on each of the bags is made from aluminum alloy and certainly feels very sturdy. Unlike some other suitcase brands, the handle easily slides up and down without catching and with minimal resistance.
The handles on both the 20″ Road Runner Carry-On and 24″ Textured Checked luggage have four different height options with the tallest setting extending to 41″ from the ground.
Interior Features
Internal Compartments and Clamshell Design
All of Level8’s suitcases are a clamshell design, which is typical of hard-sided luggage. This means the zipper goes around the middle and the case opens up with two evenly split sides.
The plus side of this is that it gives you easy access to both sides, rather than having to dig to the bottom of one deep side to find things, and allows for better organizing.
However, the downside of this design, is that when opened it takes up more space in your hotel room.
Both suitcases have interior compartments separated by mesh zippers which I love. These extra pockets are really handy for storing items you may need to get to quickly, such as charging cables or a toothbrush.
The zippers open smoothly and all of the material feels high quality.
Personally, I prefer this design as I like the organization it allows. Also, with the zippered compartment containing my items, I can easily flip the case closed to take up less space without concern about my stuff falling all over the place!
If you’re more accustomed to soft-sided luggage with single lids, you may find it takes some getting used to when packing. I recommend using packing cubes too, as these definitely help a lot. We’ve also compiled a complete list of our Top Travel Packing Tips here.
Packing Capacity
While we’ve listed the technical specifications, the functional packing capacity of a case often goes beyond the number of liters listed. Although for those that want a reminded, the Road Runner Carry-On has a 38L capacity and the 24″ Textured Checked luggage has a 65L capacity.
As with all wheeled luggage, some of the interior is taken up by the handle compartment. However, the space that this uses is minimal.
We recently used all our suitcases to travel to Southern Oregon and were really impressed with how much we could fit in to the 24″ bag. Despite packing a lot of winter gear, we were able to squeeze in everything we needed. I can’t imagine a time when it wouldn’t be sufficient.
The Level8 carry-on cases, however, felt like they couldn’t hold as much as our much cheaper Traveler’s Club carry-on. (Also the wheels on one of our Travelers Club bags was shredded after one use, so the quality certainly isn’t comparable).
With that said, we specifically chose the Road Runner Carry-On for the protected laptop compartment, which is what takes up some of the space and is a trade-off we were comfortable making. But it is worth keeping this in mind as you select the right luggage for you.
Road Runner Carry-On Laptop Pocket
As this was the feature that drew us to this bag, it felt deserving of its own section. In short, we LOVE this pocket.
The laptop zipper compartment is well-padded to protect your computer and any other gear you may want to store here. It is comprised of five different-sleeved compartments, as well as a pen holder.
Personally, I find it great for storing anything I may need quick access to but also want to be kept safe. For example, I usually load it up with my 16-inch MacBook Pro (which fits easily and has an elasticated velcro strap to secure it further), passport, travel wallet, kindle, travel journal, portable power pack, charging cable, and pens.
While this feature does eat into the internal storage a little, it means that I no longer need to carry a separate (and usually heavy) laptop bag. Instead, if I need some extra storage I’d rather put some lighter items in a backpack, such as clothes, that require less protection.
Additional Features
Price
Perhaps one of the most important factors when deciding if Level 8 luggage is worth it for you, is the price.
The full retail price of the Road Runner Carry-On is $199.99*, although it is currently on sale at $179.99*. The 24″ Textured Checked luggage costs $199.99*.
While these luggage pieces certainly aren’t the cheapest, they are significantly less than similar brands such as Away and Monos. Furthermore, as the adage goes, you get what you pay for.
The attention to detail, durability, functionality, and aesthetics all make it worth paying a little extra. The added reassurance of a lifetime warranty also adds value.
For the cost, I think these bags are certainly good value, providing luxury luggage at an affordable price.
*Prices correct as of December 2023.
Weight
The weight of your suitcase is important as airlines typically have weight restrictions on luggage. This is becoming increasingly common with carry-on luggage, as well as checked luggage.
While airline policies vary greatly and now often charge for luggage, the weight limit for checked luggage generally varies from 33lbs (15kg) to 50lbs (23kg), up to a maximum of 70lbs (32kg).
For carry-on, you will still find some airlines don’t have weight limits. However, some budget airlines have a limit as low as 11lbs (5kg).
With this in mind, the Road Runner Carry-On weighs in at 9.5lbs (4.3kg) and the 24″ Textured Checked case at 9.8lbs (4.4kg). The weight of the checked bag is comparable to other brands at a similar size. However, the carry-on bag comes in a bit heavier than similarly sized bags.
This is worth consideration when deciding if you should buy Level8 luggage. Although it is only a couple of pounds difference, it could add up in baggage feeds very quickly if you typically fly with budget airlines.
Shipping and Returns
Shipping for Level8 luggage is free (if you’re in the USA or Europe) and fast. We received our bags within a few days of ordering.
Level8 ships worldwide but there are varying fees for countries outside of the US and Europe. These fees can be found on their website here.
If you purchase directly through Level8, you have 7 days from receiving your product to request a refund. However, you will need to pay for the cost of return shipping.
Alternatively, if you order through Amazon, shipping and returns are completely free and the return period is extended to 30-days minimum.
Stickers
This is a bit of a silly feature and certainly not something that would impact my buying decision. However, one of the cases came with a set of stick on letters which I loved!
I love being able to personalize my luggage to make it stand out so I had fun sticking “We Dream of Travel” to my Level8 carry-on case!
❓ FAQs About Level8 Luggage
Is Level8 good luggage?
Yes, Level8 is good luggage. They produce high-quality, durable, hardshell suitcases at a reasonable price point.
Where is Level 8 luggage manufactured?
Level8 luggage is manufactured in China and Cambodia. The company is based in New York.
Which luggage is the most durable?
Hard-shell luggage is typically more durable. However, external scratches and scuffs are common and should be expected with any hard-sided luggage. While these may impact the appearance, they do not affect the functionality and are better at keeping your belongings safe.
What is the TSA approved carry-on size?
TSA does not have a set carry-on size and the dimensions of carry-on baggage allowed in the cabin of the aircraft vary by airline. However, generally, most airlines have a maximum carry-on size policy of 22″x14″x9″, including wheels and handles.
Your baggage allowance may vary depending on your ticket type. Some basic economy tickets only allow for a personal item, such as a purse, and do not include carry-on luggage.
Is Level8 luggage good value?
Level8 has high-quality products that are excellent value for the cost.
Is it better to get hard or soft luggage?
Hard-shell luggage provides the benefits of protecting fragile items, being more difficult to break into, and typically being more water resistant. Aluminum luggage generally offers the highest level of security.
Soft-sided luggage has the benefit of being more flexible in shape. This allows it to compress easier into tight spaces such as an overhead bin on a plane. Additionally, its flexibility can often allow you to pack more as it more readily molds around the shape of your belongings.
⭐️ Level 8 Luggage Review: Final Thoughts
All luggage brands and options have some drawbacks. However, Level8 has created an excellent set of products at a price point that’s much more appealing than some of their competitors.
We absolutely think that Level8 luggage is worth it, despite some of the drawbacks we’ve mentioned.
We truly hope you have found this honest review of Level8 luggage helpful as you decide whether it’s the right choice for you. If you do decide to purchase Level 8 luggage, be sure to use the discount code WeDreamofTravel10 for 10% off.
🛒 Shop for luggage: Official Level8 Website | Amazon
Now we’d like to hear from you!
Was there any question left unanswered, or information you think needs to be updated? Did you learn everything you needed to in order to confidently make a decision? Have you put Level 8 luggage to the test?
Let us know your thoughts and help us improve by leaving some feedback in the comments below!
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According to Level8 customer service they DO NOT have lifetime warranty on anything but the Aluminum line and a line called Matte (which doesnt seem to exist). They offer a 5 years warranty on the items you have reviewed seems. Ironically, they state on the item pages that they do have a lifetime warranty but on the warranty page itself they change it.
Hi,
Thank you for your comment. I have reached out to Level8 too and they confirmed the following:
“All the luggage on LEVEL8 official website is guaranteed for a lifetime (including the Atlas backpack), of course, except for external force/human factor. And our Matte cases are only available on Amazon.”
I hope this helps. I have been in touch with them several times and always been told that it is a lifetime warranty.
Also, to further clarify, if you visit their website and go to any luggage product you can click on the “luggage warranty” drop down where you’ll see it says:
“…we offer a lifetime warranty that covers any functional damage to the shell, wheels, handles, zippers, or anything else that impairs your use of the luggage.”
Agree with your review. I received this luggage set for Christmas 2022. I travel a lot and was really looking forward to a lightweight carryon with a laptop pocket. This luggage does not qualify that requirement! Because of its weight, I don’t even store my laptop in this carryon. Disappointed because of the weight, and having to lift it for overhead bins. I’m a small woman and have trouble with it. Although I like the other features, I am in search of another lightweight carryon. Also my roadrunner doesn’t have a lock on the outside zippers where my laptop would be stored. So, if I am asked to check in at the gate, my luggage has no security as one could easily access the inner compartment through the laptop area.
Actually it looks like I have the Level 8 Grace.