Level8 Cases sent me their Roadrunner Pro 20″ and their Voyageur Check-in 28″ bags to test out on the voyage I’m currently on through London (briefly), Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan, Lithuania, and Belarus, so needless to say, they’re taking a beating. All opinions are my own.
Level8 Luggage Review: Did I Fall for It or Leave It Behind?
Level8 Luggage Review: Did I Fall for It or Leave It Behind? was originally published in November 2024
Last month, I received an email from Level8 Cases asking if I would like to review a couple of their luggage pieces and their timing couldn’t have been more perfect seeing that I was leaving less than a week later for the trip I still am on through the UK, Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan, Lithuania, and Belarus.
This all said, I had been mulling over the idea of investing in a decent luggage set seeing that I a) travel for a living and b) maybe it’s long overdue for me to grow up and get a suitcase and finally c) my camera gear and electronics are so heavy to carry in backpack, especially with how often I transit Istanbul Airport where your gates are more than likely 5 miles apart.
But then the slight panic set in- I’m a backpack girl.
I am not totally anti-suitcase either, but the type of destinations I tend to visit are a bit rough and tumble for wheelie bags.
Not to fear, I didn’t panic and ditch the luggage at home, I hopped onto my first flight to London with both the Level8 Roadrunner Pro 20″ Carry-on and the Level8 Voyageur Check-in 28″ and they are both still with me here, having survived their short stop in the UK, a longer stint in Turkmenistan, and the wild wild Western Kazakhstan so far.
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Who’s Level8, Anyway?
Level8 is a New York-based luggage brand aiming to make luggage that’s as stylish as it is durable.
Their goal? Luggage that lasts, that’s functional, and that feels like an upgrade from your average suitcase. Since I’m all about travel gear that doesn’t end up in a landfill in a year (I hate how things just don’t seem to last these days), Level8 had my attention.
And another bonus: shipping is free across the US and UK.
Unboxing the Level8 Luggage Set: First Impressions
When my bags arrived, they came in cotton dust bags. Not just boxed-up plastic. Unpacking felt like a bit of an experience, and that detail told me Level8 cared about quality and presentation. Plus, they arrived in just a couple of days, so no waiting around.
What Features Does Level8 Luggage have that Set Them Apart?
Quiet 360° Wheels
They got me at the wheels.
The only roller bag I’ve owned is a little giraffe print duffle that looks like it’s been to the bowels of hell and back. And you can hear me from a mile away with its one wonky flat wheel which about gives me a complex when I’m dragging it through the airport.
My first time testing the wheels out was on the pavement walkway out front of my house as I rushed out the door to hop in the car and to the SLC Airport.
And do these things roll like a dream.
Level8 calls them “the best wheels you’ve ever seen”—and they’re not wrong. They glide on bi-metal bearings with quiet 360° polyurethane wheels that can tackle even bumpy broken asphalt in Central Asia– a true testament.
That said, somewhere on the flight or baggage handling from SLC to London, I lost one side of one of these bi-wheels on the Voyageur Check-in 28″. The good news is that it still wheels around perfectly and quietly.
On the trip in and through Turkmenistan, my friend Bekah kept spinning both suitcases around and exclaiming that you know it’s good luggage when they spin perfectly on a dime.
And luckily, these wheels come with a lifetime guarantee.
10/10 for wheels, hands down.
Lightweight Luggage
One thing that always makes me hesitant about traveling with suitcases is the weight of the bags themselves as they can be quite heavy- especially at a time when airlines have gone full Gestapo about weight and want to nickel and dime us for everything.
The Level8 Luggage range is built with Makrolon®, a super light but incredibly tough German material that’s ready to handle whatever airport chaos is thrown at it.
With airline weight restrictions getting tighter every year, having a suitcase that doesn’t eat into my weight allowance is crucial.
Truth be told, the bags are a bit heavy at 9.3lbs for the Roadrunner 20″ Carry-on and 12.4 lbs for the Voyageur 28″ Check-in but I can’t knock Level8 on this one as they come in at a pretty standard weight for suitcases of these sizes, albeit, having a more durable feel than those I’ve looked at in department stores.
I feel that if Level8’s luggage lines were any more lightweight it may be sacrificing durability. It’s light enough that I don’t get weighed down, yet it feels solid and ready for some hard miles.
For weight, it’s a 8/10 from me so far—I’ll keep you updated the cases rack up the miles.
Durability to Last
Level8 bags are made from German Makrolon® polycarbonate, which is regarded as super lightweight but durable.
To be completely honest, I had my reservations trusting the durability of either bag, especially the check-in luggage with how luggage gets chucked around during the handling at airports, but so far, so good. Both bags have thus far stood the test.
I haven’t been using it for long, but I plan to update you guys on how it holds up through this trip over the next couple of months. For now, it’s holding up nicely.
For durability, I’m giving it a 8/10 so far but TBD.
Easy to Organize
If you’ve traveled with me, you know that my organizational skills are abysmal. I’m a pile girl and there’s no logic to how things are separated amongst the piles but I know which pile each thing I need is in (a genius level of chaos? Maybe.).
The big attraction for me with the Roadrunner 20″ Carry-on was the laptop pocket in the front. Don’t laugh, but I get incredibly stressed out going through TSA and having to fidget around to get my laptop out and into a bin without the person behind me rolling their eyes and sighing.
Not to mention, the Voyageur’s mesh zipper partition on one wide of the bag and the two zipper pocket partition on the other help me keep my things separated a bit more appropriately than my normal way of going through life just jamming things in, zipping it shut and ignoring the entire mess.
And the straps inside the Roadrunner, paired with its double-pocket zipper mesh keep everything secure, minimizing the chaotic tumble of items during transit. They’ve designed it thoughtfully, so packing and unpacking is straightforward and fast.
A solid 10/10 for organization and ease of use here.
TSA-Approved Locks
Setting up the TSA-approved lock was simple and only took a minute to set up on either bag.
I do really like the locking feature for both bags as I travel with a lot of camera equipment, hard drives, a laptop, and depending on destination- large sums of cash. So the peace of mind being able to lock my bag before I put in the overhead or behind in a guesthouse room is pretty nice.
Security without hassle: 10/10.
A Waterproof Outer Shell
I’ve had luggage soaked through when picking them up off of the carousel before, so I was curious about Level8’s claim that their bags are waterproof. Both bags have been put to the test on this trip having weathered both a rainy Ashgabat and Aktau, and the hard shell held up to Level8’s promise.
That said, the zipper isn’t fully waterproof, which I expected. But for the water the zipper would encounter in most situations, it’s solid. It’s a practical level of waterproofing for real travel.
9/10 on the waterproofing front.
Easy for All Heights
Level8’s telescopic handle is aluminum alloy and adjusts to multiple heights, so whether you’re a wee 5’3” like me or over 6′, it’s comfortable for everyone. I travel in a lot of countries most of the time where chivalry is not dead and no man in a 10 mile radius will let me carry my own luggage, so it’s nice to have that adjustable handle in these situations.
Did Level8 Create the “Perfect Luggage”?
My answer: Pretty close- but also depends on the trip.
All Around: I will drag that Roadrunner 20″ Carry-on to the ends of the earth and back. I can fit a few days’ stuff with my camera gear inside and it’s just the perfect carry-on bag.
For Longer Trips: For longer trips to destinations where I’m not mountaineering and or doing long-distance trekking where I may need to hitchhike to starting points or be at the mercy of public transport, I will opt to bring the 28″ Voyageur Check-in case.
Final Verdict: Would I Recommend Level8 Luggage?
After nearly three weeks on the road, I’m impressed. The wheels alone make travel way smoother, and there’s so much attention to detail that makes a difference, especially for the more business-style type of trip I am on currently.
I’ll keep updating this post as I take them on more adventures, but so far? Level8 is proving it’s worth the hype.
Check out Level 8 Case’s full range, and if you’re on the fence, there’s even a discount code: Use ADVENTURESOFLILNICKI10 to save 10% on your first purchase!
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