My last luggage purchase was in 2018. I bought a soft wheeled carry-on bag ahead of my trip around the Balkans and ended up dragging it around for six-plus months, including through ankle-deep snow and across countless cobbled squares. Incredibly, it survived that ordeal and up until recently, I was still using it on a monthly basis.
It’s definitely seen better days though, and I’ve been in desperate need of a luggage upgrade for a while now. I have been waiting to find an equally robust suitcase that would last me another five years and ideally outlive my last bag.
LEVEL8 caught my eye because it combines a soft-luggage aesthetic with all the perks of a hard-side suitcase. All designs have a beautiful shape and use cutting edge materials such as polycarbonate.
LEVEL8 invited me to try out their Vintage Luggage Collection and for the past month, I’ve been testing both the carry-on 20” and the checked 24” hard-shell suitcase. So far I’m extremely impressed with the design, the attention to detail in the construction, and most of all just how robust these bags are.
Transparency: This detailed review was created in collaboration with LEVEL8. All opinions, recommendations and criticisms are 100% my own.
Please note: This post contains affiliate links, meaning I may earn a commission if you make a purchase by clicking a link (at no extra cost to you). Learn more.
Why LEVEL8?
LEVEL8 is a NYC-based company specialising in wheeled suitcases, backpacks, laptop bags and travel accessories that combine sophisticated design with quality materials.
The name LEVEL8 comes from the infinity symbol (i.e. a figure 8 flipped on its side), which the brand says represents ‘endless exploration of the future and life’s unlimited possibilities’. These are pretty lofty ideals for a luggage company, and when LEVEL8 reached out to me, I was curious to see if the bags would live up to the hype.
This brand is getting a lot of attention right now – especially in the blogosphere – and I think a big part of the reason is their designs, which are both elegant and practical. The Pro Carry-On with Laptop Pocket, for example, is a hard-side suitcase with a separate laptop compartment. I’ve never seen a design like this before.
Here are the six things that I think set LEVEL8 luggage apart:
Sophisticated, feminine designs. Every collection is super sleek and modern, and their designs for women have a classy feminine edge. They also make unisex bags and suitcases for men that are very minimal and equally easy on the eye.
Fun colours. LEVEL8’s palette includes steel blue, sea green, bright yellow, violet, glitter pink, and olive. The more minimalist designs come in grey, black and navy tones. The matte or textured finishes give every case a beautiful profile and feel.
Polycarbonate hard shell. LEVEL8 cases have a hard exterior made from German Bayer Makrolon® polycarbonate. This material is extremely durable and water-resistant, while also being lightweight and having some flex.
Robust spinner wheels and telescopic handles. These are usually the first things to go, so I always pay special attention to these features when shopping for luggage. LEVEL8 uses durable 360-degree spinner wheels that have an anti-shock design, allowing free movement with little resistance (and virtually no noise). The telescopic handle is similarly sturdy, with an ergonomic design and an easy-glide finish.
Limited lifetime warranty. A good suitcase is an investment – and LEVEL8 designs truly are timeless – so of course you want yours to last as long as possible. The company offers a limited lifetime warranty that covers any functional damage to the outer shell, wheels, handles or zippers. Backpacks come with a one-year warranty. I think this speaks volumes about the quality of workmanship and the brand’s confidence in their end product.
Attention to detail. Yes they are extremely polished, but LEVEL8 cases still feel handmade. From the needlework to the embossing and the branded YKK zipper pulls, it’s obvious there isn’t a stitch out of place.
Another perk: LEVEL8 offers luggage sets, which give you a saving of 10%-20% when you buy multiple cases. Some also come with packing cubes. LEVEL8 seems to run holiday sales quite frequently on their website, so I recommend keeping an eye out for special deals too.
They also offer free shipping to customers in the USA, Europe and the UK. Worldwide shipping is also available.
Get 10% off your LEVEL8 purchase: Use the code wanderlush10 at checkout.
LEVEL8 review: Vintage Luggage Collection
I was very tempted to try the Pro Carry-On with Laptop Front Pocket as I often find myself trying to squeeze my laptop into my suitcase to minimise the number of bags I have to carry.
But in the end I went for aesthetics over practicality – I just couldn’t resist the curved lines and cute colours of the LEVEL8 Vintage Collection.
I chose to test out the set in dark sea green, which is actually quite light to my eye. I would describe it as more of a eucalyptus or maybe a deep mint. The colour is true to what’s pictured on the website.
My 20” carry-on and 24” checked bag luggage set arrived tidily packaged, each suitcase with its own dust bag. Definitely hold onto these because they come in handy for protecting your cases when they’re in storage (actually, I’m using mine to store winter clothes).
Checked 24” polycarbonate suitcase
Most of my travel is domestic these days, and being of a certain age (!), I am finding that a carry-on sized bag is a little too small for my needs. So I decided to try out the 24” checked polycarbonate suitcase first.
This is a mid-sized suitcase, still very streamlined while fitting a little bit more inside. It’s perfect for a 7-10 day trip, but you could easily fit enough gear for an extended trip too.
Features:
- Water-resistant polycarbonate hard shell
- 3-step telescopic handle
- 360-degree spinner wheels
- TSA-approved combination lock
- Fully lined interior (2 main compartments plus 2 smaller zipper pockets)
- Luggage straps
Specs:
- Capacity: 67 L
- Weight: 8.5 lbs (3.86 kg)
- Dimensions: 13.6”L x 10.2”W x 25.6”H
Polycarbonate exterior
The first thing you notice about these suitcases is how lightweight they are. The check-in luggage in particular is really lightweight for a suitcase of its size, weight in at just 8.5 lbs or 3.86 kg.
The polycarbonate hard shell has different textures on the front and the back, which provides some textural interest and also helps with preventing scratches to the underside.
My suitcases are quite light in colour, so I was concerned about surface damage and scratches. After its maiden voyage in the luggage compartment of the bus, my bag did have a few scuff marks on the front, but these came off easily with a wet cloth.
As mentioned, the polycarbonate shell is water repellent and you’ll notice that the zippers are slightly concealed, which makes the whole case weather-proof.
One little detail I love is the subtle embossing on the side zipper cover – it says ‘Always ready’.
There is definitely some flex in the shell, but being a hard case it doesn’t have as much breathing room as a soft suitcase. It doesn’t expand, and this particular design doesn’t have any outer pockets. The result is an extremely streamlined finish, but it does lack a bit of practicality on that front.
Interior organisation
LEVEL8 suitcases have a fairly simple interior without too many pockets. If you’re an organised packer like me, you’ll find that the layout is flexible enough to accommodate your packing cubes, pouches, shoe bags, and whatever else you need to carry.
The 67-litre interior is split in half with mesh flaps so you essentially have two big pockets that fully zip-up. One side of the mesh flap has two smaller pockets that you can use for smaller items such as cords and chargers.
One thing I really didn’t like about my last suitcase was that it was one big interior compartment with super-tight elastic straps that always squished my gear. The LEVEL8 Vintage Collection cases are much easier to organise – if you only need a few days’ worth of clothing, you can just use one side of the case and not have to worry about everything floating around inside.
One thing to note is that the telescopic handle mechanism is inside the case and you can see it through the bottom lining – so it’s not a smooth bottom, but two bars with a valley in between that you need to pack your things around. This can actually be kind of useful to give your pack more structure.
The soft beige-coloured lining with LEVEL8 embossing, sturdy YKK zippers and branded zipper pulls are all thoughtfully designed.
Another feature I really fell in love with is the luggage straps. These are not your usual elastic bands that are either too tight or too loose and lose their stretch after a couple uses – these are beautiful, soft silk-like ribbons that will never snag delicate fabrics or crush your clothes.
The circular fixture where the straps connect pivots and easily releases with your thumb. It’s really easy to operate and tighten by pulling the ribbon though. I know this is just a very small feature, but the design is spectacular.
Handles, TSA-approved lock, wheels & other features
Both the 24” checked suitcase and the smaller carry-on have two hard side handles, one on the top and one on the side. The side handle is a godsend when trying to get your bag into an overhead compartment. Both handles are sturdy and pop out slightly, so they sit flush with the rest of the case when not in use.
The three-step telescopic handle is ultra smooth with no visible track. The top handle has a slight angle which makes it very ergonomic. To release the mechanism, you push down on the latch with your thumb – it’s a very natural movement and it’s obvious that a lot of thought has gone into this one detail.
On the side of the case there is a built-in TSA approved combination lock. When not fitted to the lock, the flat side zippers sit perfectly inside the indented zipper line, again adding to the bag’s perfectly smooth silhouette.
A real stand-out of this design is the 360-degree spinner wheels. You can wheel the bag on two or four wheels depending on the terrain, and it’s very easy to spin the case if you’re moving through a crowd. These wheels are ultra quiet too.
One thing I don’t love is that the four indented wheel ‘pockets’ have a scored design – I can imagine dirt eventually getting up in there and it being a bit difficult to clean.
Carry-on 20” polycarbonate suitcase
This is a standard carry-on sized suitcase on wheels that is small enough to stow in the overhead locker of a plane. If you’re a light packer, you’ll find the 38-litre capacity is still plenty enough room.
This smaller case has the same dual-texture outer shell, telescopic handle, TSA lock, and spinner wheels. It’s virtually identical to the larger case, just scaled-down.
Features:
- Water-resistant polycarbonate hard shell
- 3-step telescopic handle
- 360-degree spinner wheels
- TSA-approved combination lock
- Fully lined interior (2 main compartments plus 2 smaller zipper pockets)
Specs:
- Capacity: 38 L
- Weight: 6.8 lbs (3.08 kg)
- Dimensions: 14.3”L x 8.6”W x 21.3”H
I was really happy to discover that the fully lined interior is organised the same way, i.e. split in half.
The only difference is that the mesh dividers have a single zipper pull, and there are no ribbon fasteners. With a case this size you don’t really need them.
LEVEL8 luggage review: Final thoughts
It was the look and the colours of the LEVEL8 Vintage Collection that first caught my eye – but it’s the attention to detail in the manufacturing, the robust wheels and ergonomic handles that make these cases special.
I took my 24” out for a spin on the streets of Tbilisi. The wheels stood up incredibly well, gliding over the uneven sidewalks and cobbled roads with ease.
The interior of these bags is just as thoughtful as the exterior. I love the use of mesh dividers, especially in the smaller carry-on bag, and the fact that it opens out half-and-half makes it very easy to organise. The ribbon luggage straps in the 24” case are one of my favourite features and such a welcome alternative to the usual scrappy straps you find in luggage these days.
The Vintage Collection is available separately or as a set (20” and 24” inch cases). If you need a bit more room, there’s also a 26” case with the same design.
Check prices here, and remember to use the coupon code wanderlush10 at checkout to get 10% off!