As someone who is fortunate enough to spend time traveling the world with great frequency, there’s one question I get asked all the time; how the heck do you pack?
Longtime readers may know that I am a staunch backpacker- I’ve been all around the world with my trusty 40L Osprey Farpoint backpack, and I firmly believe that carry on suitcases are the way to go.
However, I’ve noticed that as I get older, it’s becoming more difficult to pack all of my clothes and gear into my backpack- not to mention how heavy it’s starting to feel after a long day of travel.
Backpacks still have their place, but I think it’s time to try out a roller suitcase!
Imagine my delight when Level8 suitcases reached out to me and offered to send me a suitcase of my choice in exchange for a review. Such perfect timing!
More About Level8
Level8 offers a range of hard shell checked bags and carry on suitcases, along with a selection of laptop backpacks and luggage cubes. You all know I’m always talking about the miracle that is luggage cubes when it comes to packing for a long trip!
One of Level8’s main focuses is on durability. The “8” in their name is a nod to the infinity symbol- they’re not kidding around when they say that they want these suitcases to last forever!
This is great for me, because I’m not the kind of person who buys with the trends. Once I buy something, I tend to use it until it’s no longer able to be used!
Level8 offered me the pick of the litter and I went through my options carefully since I expect to be using it for a long time.
With that being said, I selected the Voyageur Carry On 20” in the limited edition celadon color.
The Suitcase
Their main selection of suitcases seem to be in neutral, more earthy tones, but with a notable pop of yellow in their limited edition colorways. I was also interested in the dark olive color for my suitcase, but I figured I’d take the opportunity to branch out from my standard greens and blacks with this pretty ocean colored suitcase.
I know airlines have been really strict about their carry on suitcase sizes lately, so I made sure to measure the suitcase when it came in. From wheels to handle, the length was just over 21 inches.
Empty, the suitcase weighs 8.1 pounds, which is objectively heavier than my Osprey backpack- but keep in mind that you’re not wearing this on your shoulders! This does very slightly reduce the amount that can be packed into the suitcase, but I think it’s quite hard to reach an airline’s 22-50 pound weight limit when packing in a carry on regardless.
The Level8 website offers these precise measurement details, so make sure to check those out before purchasing your suitcase if you’re traveling on a budget airline!
This suitcase is on the very upper limits of the carry on dimensions, which gives me the most packing space possible, but I’ll be interested to see how the airlines manage a carry on of this size given their increasingly strict gate agents.
I am a firm believer that you can pack nearly everything you could possibly want into a carry on suitcase- and as a bonus you don’t have to wait around the luggage carousel, worrying about the suitcase getting lost.
On the off chance that the airline makes you check your luggage at the gate due to overhead storage limitations (which I’ve seen happening more and more frequently these days), the hard shell is designed to protect your gear with a lightweight and heat resistant polycarbonate.
Don’t forget to take all of your medications and irreplaceable items out of your bag before you check it- just in case it gets lost!
Each Level8 suitcase comes with a built-in, TSA-approved combination lock to keep your valuables safe while you’re traveling.
Level8 estimates that this 43L case can pack 3-5 days worth of clothes, but as someone who spent three months living out of my Osprey, its spacious enough that I could probably live in this thing.
The suitcase arrived promptly, in a recyclable cardboard shipping box and a dustbag that made opening the box feel surprisingly fancy.
Upon first glance, the two-toned hard shell of the suitcase makes it stand out amongst its peers- most seem to have the same color throughout. I really like the micro-diamond textured surface of the suitcase, though I suspect it will make it difficult to clean in the long run. On the other hand, any scratches or dents should be more disguised by the texture than they would be on a smooth surface.
There are four sturdy 360 spinner wheels at the bottom of the case that seem like they’ll hold up to Europe’s cobblestone streets.
I’m old enough to remember when 360 wheel designs were not common, and let me tell you- they’re a total game changer, especially when navigating an airport! The Level8 logo on each wheel is a nice touch, too.
In addition to these wheels, the suitcase has little feet on both the wide side and the tall side of the case so it never has to lay fully on the ground. Attention to details like these is what really makes suitcases worth the money.
I also really liked the wide handle, which feels sturdier than the standard narrow handles in the middle of a suitcase. I always feel like those narrow handles twist alarmingly if my suitcase is too heavy, and this wide handle solves that issue!
Because the wide handle is tucked away on the edges of the suitcase, the bottom of the hard shell is flat, which makes it much easier to pack your items. It just makes so much more sense!
Inside the suitcase, each half is lined and divided into a zippered compartment to help keep things neat while traveling. There are no straps to hold things in place, so I’ll definitely be keeping an eye on the structural quality of these compartments when I inevitably overfill them.
So far, the zippers seem sturdy and smooth, but I think I’ll make sure to use luggage cubes to help take some of the pressure off. We’ll see how they hold up over time.
I do really like how one of these zipper compartments also has two small pockets for dry-wet separation. One of my biggest complaints with a hard shell suitcase is the lack of organizational pockets, so I love to see that Level8 seems to be taking steps to fix that!
I understand that these pockets are probably going to be more useful as swimsuit storage, but I’ll absolutely be tucking my tchotchkes in there throughout my trip.
I don’t quite junk journal, but I can’t bring myself to get rid of my fun maps and tickets so I always bring them home to stick into my travel journals and these pockets will make them easier to keep track of.
Is It Worth It?
In terms of price, these Level8 suitcases sit at the lower end of the scale compared to its competitors such as Monos, Away, and Beis, with this Voyager carry on coming in at the $250 range, rather than the $300s.
I’ve also seen Level8 run several sales in the time that I’ve been working on this review, so it’s a good alternative to those more expensive brands. If you happen to miss their sale, don’t worry! Level8 has also been generous enough to offer a 10% discount code for the readers of my blog.
While there are cheaper suitcases available, the low price is often accompanied by poor quality materials that tend to crack and bend as time goes on. Sometimes it’s worth it to spend a little extra on a product if you know you won’t have to replace it so regularly. It’ll save you money in the long run!
The suitcase does come with a lifetime warranty, so I expect any issues I may come across to be taken care of by Level8.
If you’re interested in giving them a try, use code “Roaming10” when purchasing on the Level8 website to take advantage of that discount!
Level8 suitcases are available both directly on their website (here), or on their Amazon page (here)- where they’ve got hundreds of positive reviews from more than just me!
Keep in mind that this review is based on my first impressions of this carry on suitcase. I’m not precious about my luggage and I expect them to be able to take a beating.
I’ve got a trip coming up this summer and if all goes to plan, this case will be coming with me. Keep an eye on this space to see how it fares once I haul it across cobble stones, down stairs, through mud puddles, and use it as a seat.
Let’s call it a trial by fire, and one I expect my suitcase to pass handily.
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