This is a sponsored post in collaboration with LEVEL8. As always, all views and opinions are my own. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. This post contains affiliate links and if you make a purchase using one of these links, I'll receive a modest commission fee, at no extra cost to you.
As someone who travels regularly for both work and leisure, I’ve learnt that a good suitcase can make all the difference to a trip. While looks are important to an extent, practical considerations like how much I can actually fit inside, how easily I can manoeuvre my luggage, and whether I can quickly get to my laptop or other essentials tend to matter much more once I’m actually on the road.
The amount of luggage I travel with can vary considerably depending on the trip, too. For a short UK break or European getaway, I might be able to get away with taking a cabin bag, while longer trips – particularly given that I’m notorious for travelling with practically my entire wardrobe, not to mention returning home with an inevitable haul of edible souvenirs – generally call for a checked case.
So, when LEVEL8 invited me to put two of their suitcases to the test, I was keen to see how they’d compare to the luggage I’ve travelled with previously.
I opted for the LEVEL8 Adventure Carry-On 20″, alongside the larger Voyageur Checked 26″. Rather than choosing a matching luggage set, I was drawn to each case for different reasons, and I wanted to see how the different designs would work for the different ways in which I travel.
As for the rather eye-catching yellow and black colourway? That was an easy decision. Not only should my luggage be pretty difficult to miss on the baggage carousel, but the colours are almost identical to The Rare Welsh Bit’s branding. It felt like it was meant to be!
Having spent some time getting to know both suitcases, here’s how I got on with them, including the features I found most useful, how much you can fit inside, and whether I think LEVEL8 luggage is worth the investment.
Who are LEVEL8?
Founded in the USA in 2008, LEVEL8 is a travel brand specialising in luggage, backpacks and other travel accessories.
Interestingly, the company initially became known for developing a patent-protected laptop compartment with 230 shock-absorbing points, designed specifically with Apple MacBooks in mind. Since then, LEVEL8 has expanded its range considerably, collaborating with international designers and picking up a number of international design accolades, including Red Dot, iF and IDEA awards.
The Voyageur collection itself has also received recognition, having been named a Newsweek Readers’ Choice Award winner.
LEVEL8 focuses on combining functionality with clean, minimalist design, with particular emphasis on spacious interiors, organisation and manoeuvrability. The brand positions its luggage towards the premium end of the market, with an emphasis on offering high-end design, materials and functionality at a more accessible price point.
This focus on functionality was one of the things that appealed to me most. As someone who travels with a MacBook on virtually every trip, while simultaneously possessing an impressive inability to travel light, I’m always looking for luggage that makes better use of the space available.
The two LEVEL8 suitcases I tested
I’ve been reviewing two LEVEL8 suitcases, in different sizes and from different ranges:
- LEVEL8 Adventure Carry-On 20″ in yellow and black – £299.99
- LEVEL8 Voyageur Checked 26″ in yellow – £349.99
Both are hard-shell suitcases made from German-made Makrolon® polycarbonate, with TSA-approved locks, 360-degree spinner wheels and interior compression systems.
They’re noticeably deep, too. In fact, I can fit the entire Adventure Carry-On inside my Voyageur Checked 26″, which gives you some idea of just how spacious the larger case is.
Although I love the appearance of both designs, I deliberately chose the Adventure as my carry-on and the Voyageur as my checked luggage because each has features that lend themselves particularly well to how I use that particular size of suitcase.
LEVEL8 Adventure Carry-On 20″ review
First impressions
My yellow and black Adventure Carry-On certainly isn’t a suitcase for anyone hoping to blend into the background.
I love the bold design, though, and the colour combination couldn’t be more appropriate for The Rare Welsh Bit if I’d designed it myself.
The Adventure is also available in black, Celadon (soft, pale green with blue undertones) and brown, while larger 24″ and 28″ checked versions are available for travellers who like the design but need more packing space.
Despite being compact enough to function as carry-on luggage, the first thing that struck me when I opened it was how deep it felt. The top-opening design makes good use of the available interior space, rather than splitting the case into two equal halves in the traditional clamshell style.
The shell itself is made from German-made Makrolon® polycarbonate, while the interior is lined with 100% RPET recycled polyester.
A carry-on designed with easy access in mind
One of the main reasons I chose the Adventure as my carry-on was its top-opening design.
I’m forever opening my cabin luggage while travelling. Whether I’m reaching for my laptop, charger, documents or something I’ve convinced myself I urgently need at the bottom of my bag, easy access makes a genuine difference.
This is particularly useful when I’m travelling by train for work. If I want to get my MacBook out and work during the journey, the last thing I want to do is lay my entire suitcase open in the middle of a busy train carriage just to reach my laptop.
Rather than opening into two halves like a conventional clamshell case, the Adventure opens from the top, making it much easier to access the main compartment in tighter spaces.
There’s a TSA-approved lock too, which offers some additional reassurance. Thankfully, I’ve never had luggage stolen while travelling but losing my belongings – and particularly my laptop – is one of those travel fears that tends to linger somewhere at the back of my mind.
More room when you need it
If there’s one thing I’ve never mastered during all my years of travelling, it’s packing light.
I’m getting better at packing a carry-on bag for short trips – discovering packing cubes relatively recently has been something of a revelation – but I’ll always appreciate a suitcase capable of squeezing my belongings into oblivion and leaving me with a little extra space for all the gifts and souvenirs I inevitably end up buying during my trip.
The Adventure Carry-On has answered my prayers with its interior compression packing system, designed to keep everything secure and make more efficient use of space.
It’s expandable, too. Unzipping the expansion section on the 20″ model adds another five litres of capacity, offering vital wiggle room when your suitcase somehow contains considerably more on the return journey than it did when you left home.
And mine usually does. I have a habit of bringing home everything from spices and sauces to jars, interesting local cheeses and other treats – even a live lobster – so spare luggage capacity rarely stays spare for long. I really must get around to writing about that train journey one day…
A suitcase handle that works for my height
Another feature I’ve particularly appreciated on the Adventure is its four-stage adjustable aluminium telescopic trolley handle.
At just 4’11”, I’m used to products being designed with considerably taller people in mind. With some suitcases, even the lower handle settings can leave my arm sitting higher than feels completely natural when I’m wheeling the case around.
Being able to adjust the Adventure’s handle through four different stages means I can use it at a lower, more comfortable height.
A suitcase handle might sound like a fairly minor consideration, but it’s exactly the kind of detail you start to appreciate when you’re navigating a station or airport with your luggage in tow.
LEVEL8 Voyageur Checked 26″ review
While I chose the Adventure primarily for its practical carry-on features, it was the bold appearance and spacious design of the Voyageur that initially drew me to this particular case for my checked luggage.
LEVEL8’s Voyageur Checked comes in several sizes, including 20″, 26″, 28″ and 30″, with luggage sets also available. My yellow and black colourway is one of the more distinctive options, with Celadon also available as a limited edition shade, alongside the standard navy, dark and black olive shades.
A suitcase I can actually spot at baggage reclaim
I’ve lost count of the number of times I’ve watched a dark suitcase approaching on the baggage carousel and wondered whether it’s mine, only to realise as it gets closer that it belongs to somebody else.
That’s one problem I’m unlikely to have with this one.
The yellow Voyageur is bright, bold and immediately recognisable. It’s certainly eye-catching, too – while I was at Newport train station in south Wales recently, a little girl stopped to tell me how much she loved my suitcase because the yellow and black reminded her of a bumble bee!
Obviously, colour alone isn’t a reason to invest in a suitcase, but when you’re standing at baggage reclaim after a long flight, being able to identify your luggage instantly is certainly convenient. I also love the fact that it happens to fit so perfectly with The Rare Welsh Bit’s yellow and black branding.
The exterior has LEVEL8’s Micro-Diamond finish, while the shell is constructed from German-made Makrolon® polycarbonate. It certainly feels robust – so much so that I can even get away with propping myself up on it while standing in airport check-in queues, or waiting around for buses and trains.
Like the Adventurer Carry-On, the Voyageur also has a TSA-approved lock and a YKK® puncture-resistant zip, both designed to provide additional security while your luggage is out of sight. When you’re travelling, that kind of peace of mind can make all the difference to how relaxed you feel during your trip.
The Voyageur’s wide-handle design
While both of my LEVEL8 suitcases have telescopic handles, the Voyageur’s handle offers a different benefit to the four-stage adjustable handle I’ve found so useful on the Adventure.
LEVEL8’s wide-handle system positions the telescopic bars towards the outer edges of the suitcase rather than running through the middle of the main packing area.
LEVEL8 says the wider configuration helps with stability and steering by applying force towards the corners of the case. In use, I like the wide grip and have found the suitcase comfortable to manoeuvre.
Arguably, however, the biggest advantage of the design becomes apparent when you actually open the case.
A flatter, more practical packing space
Moving the Voyageur’s telescopic bars towards the edges means they don’t create the usual raised ridges running through the middle of the suitcase.
If you’ve ever tried laying neatly folded clothes or packing cubes across the bottom of a conventional suitcase, only to find yourself arranging everything around the handle bars, you’ll probably appreciate why this matters.
Since finally discovering the joys of packing cubes, I’ve become much more particular about how neatly I can organise a suitcase. Being able to place them flat across the base rather than balancing them over raised handle bars makes surprisingly good use of the available space.
There’s also an interior compression system for securing everything once packed, alongside two spacious compartments and a separate dry-wet pocket.
The latter is particularly useful for me, as I love swimming – whether that’s in the sea or the pool – and I’m always partial to a spa stay. Somehow, I seem to end up travelling home with a damp swimming costume more often than not, so having a dedicated compartment to keep it separate from my clean clothes is a genuinely useful feature.
And did I mention how deep this suitcase is?
The fact that I can store my entire Adventure Carry-On inside the Voyageur when I’m not using them probably demonstrates its capacity better than any measurement could.
For someone like me who has a tendency to return with a heavier case than I arrived with – funny how a few bottles of local wine and a suitcase full of edible souvenirs will do that – that extra space is very welcome indeed.
Living in a shared house, storage space is valuable, so being able to nest one case neatly inside the other is a real bonus.
What are LEVEL8 suitcases like to move around?
Suitcase wheels are one of those features that are easy to overlook when shopping online, but become incredibly important when you’re dragging your belongings through an airport the size of a small town.
Both cases use 360-degree dual-spinner wheels, allowing them to be pushed or pulled in different directions rather than simply dragged behind you. The wheels contain precision ball bearings, designed to provide smooth, quiet movement.
I pay more attention to suitcase wheels than I used to, having had wheels break on cases in the past. In fact, I once had a suitcase break while I was travelling in Tunisia and ended up having to go suitcase shopping in the souk – which makes for a good travel story, but isn’t an experience I’m particularly keen to repeat!
I’ve found the wheels on both LEVEL8 cases smooth and easy to manoeuvre so far, and I particularly appreciate being able to wheel them alongside me rather than having to pull them behind me.
The different handle designs then bring their own advantages: the Adventure gives me more flexibility over the height at which I hold it, while the Voyageur’s wide-handle configuration is designed with stability and packing efficiency in mind.
Adventure vs Voyageur: which LEVEL8 suitcase would I choose?
For me, these two cases actually complement each other rather than compete with one another.
If you’re looking specifically for cabin luggage, I’d choose the Adventure Carry-On for its accessibility.
The top-opening design is particularly useful if you frequently need to get into your luggage while travelling, while the laptop storage makes it especially appealing for anyone who routinely travels with a computer.
The four-stage telescopic handle is another big plus for me personally. Being able to use it at a lower height makes a genuine difference at 4’11”, while the five-litre expandable section provides some welcome flexibility when I’ve inevitably accumulated more belongings during a trip.
For checked luggage, however, I prefer the Voyageur.
Its huge, flat interior, compression system and separate compartments make it better suited to carrying larger amounts of clothing and other belongings, while positioning the wide telescopic handle towards the edges helps to maximise the usable packing area inside.
And, admittedly, I absolutely love that enormous splash of yellow coming around the baggage carousel.
LEVEL8 luggage pros and cons
After getting to know the Adventure Carry-On and Voyageur Checked luggage, these are the features that stand out most to me.
Pros
- Spacious interiors
- Smooth 360-degree spinner wheels
- TSA-approved locks
- Interior compression systems
- Four-stage adjustable telescopic handle on the Adventure
- Wide-handle system and flatter packing space on the Voyageur
- Convenient laptop storage and top access on the Adventure
- Five litres of additional expandable capacity on the 20″ Adventure
- Distinctive designs and colour options
- Premium-feeling polycarbonate shells
- RPET recycled polyester lining in the Adventure
- Useful dry-wet separation pocket in the Voyageur
Cons
The most obvious consideration is the price.
At £349.99 for the Adventure Carry-On 20″, this isn’t budget luggage. LEVEL8 positions itself as offering high-end quality and design at a more accessible price point within the premium luggage market, but it’s still a considerable investment – particularly if you only travel occasionally.
It’s also worth remembering that airline cabin-baggage allowances vary considerably. Never assume that a suitcase described as a carry-on will automatically meet the requirements of every airline you’re flying with; always check the current dimensions and weight allowance for your individual fare before travelling.
As I spend more time travelling with both cases, I’ll update this review if I encounter any other drawbacks or notice anything significant relating to longer-term wear.
Is LEVEL8 luggage worth it?
There’s no getting around the fact that LEVEL8 sits towards the premium end of the luggage market.
Whether it’s worth spending this much on a suitcase will ultimately depend on how often you travel and what you expect from your luggage.
For someone taking one holiday every couple of years, many of the features I’ve highlighted here may be nice to have rather than essential.
For frequent travellers, however, seemingly small details can make a surprisingly big difference. Wheels that glide smoothly, a handle that sits at a comfortable height, an interior that doesn’t waste valuable packing space and the ability to reach your laptop without unpacking half your belongings are all features I can genuinely appreciate.
For me, the two cases fulfil quite different roles.
The Adventure is the one I’d reach for when I want compact luggage that keeps my work and leisure essentials accessible, while the Voyageur offers the kind of generous capacity and organisation I want from a checked suitcase.
And while I initially chose that glorious yellow because I wanted something easy to spot – and because it happens to match The Rare Welsh Bit rather beautifully – there’s considerably more to both suitcases than their good looks.
LEVEL8 luggage FAQs
Both of the LEVEL8 cases I’ve tried feel robust and well-made, with hard shells constructed from German-made Makrolon® polycarbonate. LEVEL8 has also received several international design awards, including Red Dot, iF and IDEA accolades, while the Voyageur collection has been recognised as a Newsweek Readers’ Choice Award winner.
Long-term durability is something that can only really be assessed after extensive use, however, so I’ll update this review where appropriate as I continue travelling with them.
One of the Voyageur’s most distinctive features is its wide-handle design. The telescopic bars sit towards the outer edges of the case rather than running through the central packing area, creating a flatter surface inside.
The Voyageur also includes an interior compression system, two spacious compartments, a dry-wet separation pocket, a TSA-approved lock and 360-degree spinner wheels.
The Adventure has a four-stage adjustable aluminium telescopic trolley handle. For me, the ability to select a lower height is particularly useful as I’m only 4’11”, and I find it more comfortable to manoeuvre than suitcases with less flexibility in their handle height.
Yes. The Adventure Carry-On 20″ can be expanded to provide an additional five litres of capacity, which can be particularly useful when you need a little more space for the journey home.
Yes. This was actually one of the main reasons I chose the Adventure as my cabin suitcase. As I routinely travel with my MacBook, having convenient storage for my laptop while keeping it accessible during a journey is particularly useful.
LEVEL8 states that luggage purchased directly from its official website comes with a lifetime warranty. Purchases made through other sales channels may be subject to different terms, so check the relevant warranty information before buying.
The Adventure 20″ is designed as a carry-on case, measuring approximately 54.1 × 39.1 × 25.9 cm (including the handle and wheels). However, cabin-baggage allowances vary considerably between airlines, so it’s important to check the restrictions for your individual fare before flying.
For example, Ryanair’s current 10 kg cabin-bag allowance is 55 × 40 × 20 cm. While the Adventure falls within the airline’s height and width limits, it’s around 5.9 cm deeper than Ryanair’s permitted dimensions, so I wouldn’t rely on being able to take it on board a Ryanair flight.
Buy LEVEL8 luggage from the LEVEL8 website for exclusive savings, plus get 10% discount when you use code KACIE10. Alternatively, shop LEVEL8 luggage on the Amazon US website.
What do you look for when you’re buying new luggage: packing space, durability, security, easy access, or simply being able to spot your suitcase immediately on the baggage carousel? Let me know in the comments.
Don’t forget to PIN this post so you’ll be able to find it when you’re next buying luxury luggage!
This is a sponsored post in collaboration with LEVEL8. As always, all views and opinions are my own. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. This post contains affiliate links and if you make a purchase using one of these links, I'll receive a modest commission fee, at no extra cost to you.