LEVEL8 Luggage and Travel Gear Review

I (Jedd) personally think people underestimate the importance of travel packing. Having the right luggage and packing tools can really enhance (or hinder) your trip experience.

In this review of LEVEL8 luggage, we’ll talk about a hardshell case, a carryon, and a set of compression packing cubes. We tested the entire set on a recent trip to Southern California. We’ll share our honest opinions about these products and whether or not we recommend them for your next trip.

For the last 15 years, we’ve been traveling around the world in a variety of ways, using different luggage strategies. 

We’ve packed for short trips and long trips. Trips where we’ve moved around a lot. And (more often) trips where we make a home base for a while, which means packing all of our work gear too.

Throughout these experiences, we’re constantly refining what works and what doesn’t when it comes to travel packing. 

The New LEVEL8 Gear We’re Reviewing

Our old 26″ TravelPro suitcase has taken some hits over the years. Although it still works, it looks pretty pathetic (see images below). That’s why when LEVEL8 reached out about reviewing their products, it was good timing.

We received the following complimentary gear from them to test:

• Luminous Textured Check-In 24”

• Capture Carry-On 20″

• Packing Cube Travel Set (6 pack)

Disclosure: We received complimentary samples from Level8 in order to do our tests. Opinions are our own. This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase through one of our links, we may receive a small commission, at no additional cost to you.

About LEVEL8 

Since 2008, LEVEL8 has been producing modern luggage with a combination of both style and functionality (and yes, I wrote this and not an AI). What I like about this company is that they let their products speak for themselves.

There’s not a dramatic story with over the top explanations for their products, who it’s for, etc.. Their sites simply promise:

• Nothing More, Nothing Less

• Make Travel Less Of A Burden

Currently their product line focuses mainly on travel luggage, bags, and accessories in the following categories:

• Check in luggage
• Carry ons
• Bags (daypack, cooler bag)
• Organizers (packing cubes)
• Accessories (like luggage straps, covers, etc..)

Some of the most interesting features of their product lines include: a range of textures (soft and hard cases), zipperless luggage, and a variety of sizes and sets to choose from.

Their products have a modern and sleek look without being dramatic. Meaning they’re aesthetically pleasing to a wide range of folks.

Explore LEVEL8 suitcases and packing accessories here >

Our LEVEL8 Travel Luggage Test and Review

There’s no better test for travel luggage and packing gear than to actually use them for a trip. And that’s exactly what we did.

I put all three products to the test by taking them on a two week trip from Oregon to Southern California, which included a couple of airports and transfers via Southwest Airlines.

This gave me the perfect opportunity to test:

• How well the carryon would fit in overhead compartments
• The wheels in a variety of different flooring
• How much I could fit in both bags in various configurations
• How they do against the rainy conditions of Oregon
• How much wear they get from bag handlers throwing them on/off planes and luggage carousels

Watch our unboxing and Level8 review video here:

Since there were three different products, we’ll review them individually. I’ll some final thoughts about the company as a whole at the end.

Check In Luggage

The LEVEL8 website currently has check in luggage with hard case shells, waterproof durable materials, and four rotating wheels.

The following is listed in order of pricing (lowest to highest):

• Luminous (series we received): Standard hardshell case with narrow handle.
• Voyager: Largest of the lines. Similar to the Luminous line but features the wide telescoping handle that doesn’t impede on the packing area. The larger cases feature an extra handle on the front of the case.
• Hegent: A modern take on a classic suitcase. Zipperless and opens through the middle.
• Adventurer: New design featuring a wide handle that doesn’t impede on the packing area. Expandable main compartment which is opened from the front of the case (when laid down) vs. splitting the case down the middle.

As with most products, the more expensive the collection, the more features you’ll find.

LEVEL8 Luminous Textured Check-In 24” Review

For our test and review we will be talking about the Luminous Textured Check-In 24”.

Quick specs:

• Materials: German-made Makrolon® polycarbonate
• Dimensions:  17.5” L x 10.4” W x 26” H (44.5 x 26.5 x  66cm)
• Weight: 9.8lbs (4.4kg)
• Capacity: 65L

Love:

• Great build quality and solid materials
• Rolls and moves great on 4 (or 2 wheels)
• Telescoping handle is smooth
• Good looking minimalistic design
• Good weather resistance
• Great value for the price
• Travel lock is designed well
• The overall frame and structure is solid

Meh:

• Where every pound matters, it would have been nice if it was even lighter
• Not expandable
• Handle frame impedes on packing area of one of the main compartments
• Though durable and attractive, textured outside picks up scratches and dents easily

The Luminous Textured Check-In 24” is a typical hardshell case. Initially out of the box, it looked and felt great — that outside texture feel is legit. The materials felt durable and the wheels seemed sturdy.

While we didn’t get to do a true cobble stone test, it had no problem rolling across our gritty driveway and was really smooth on airport hard floors and softer carpets.

Using a bag weighing gadget, we can confirm the weight is 9.8lbs. Although that might seem heavy, it feels light and is a pretty standard weight for its size.

Needing luggage to be both light and strong is a challenging feat. I’d say all of LEVEL8’s luggage does well here.

Opening the suitcase is done through one zipper line through the middle of the bag, which splits up the bag into two main compartments.

One side (the front of the case) is completely flat, has two straps, and zippered mesh net to keep things in place with additional two zippered pockets.

The back side compartment is the same size but is not flat at the bottom because of the telescoping handle frame that runs down the center. This is not a big deal, as most likely you’ll pack clothing or something soft to go around this.

The back compartment also has two straps to hold things in place, along with its own zippered mesh cover.

The main zippers can be configured with the built in lock at the top of the luggage near the telescoping handle. You press both zippers into the locking mechanism and a latch system unbuckles the zipper pulls when you need to open the bag.

The code is a standard 3 digits and the lock is TSA-compliant, meaning they can access the zippers with their special key (no code needed). You don’t have to use the lock area mechanism to keep your bag closed, but it made the most sense to me to return the zippers to this area when I kept the bag closed. 

Here’s some side by side comparisons with our older check-in luggage, Travelpro 26″ and the LEVEL8 Luminous Textured Check-in 24″:

Traveling with the Luminous Textured Check-In 24”

For my trip to Southern California, I decided to pack this case out to the brim to see what I could fit. I filled up both compartments with gifts (including two wine bottles), a yoga mat (folded to fit), and a couple pairs of shoes.

And just to put a cherry on top, I stuffed a full size memory foam pillow in between both main compartments and squeezed the bag closed. I could feel the pressure of the bag wanting to explode as I pushed and zippered everything shut. Once closed, though, the bag seemed fine.

Altogether it was 43 lbs, and it was still really easy to wheel the case around. 

Arriving in Long Beach, I noticed the bag had already picked up some fresh scratches. Nothing major, but also a good reminder that this case isn’t scratch proof. (I don’t know any that are.) 

While hard cases are more prone to picking up visible scratches and dents than other materials, they will do the best job protecting items inside. Hard cases are also more weather resistant.

None of my packed items showed signs of getting wet from heavy Oregon rains.

Everything arrived safely. Everything was in its place. The wine bottles didn’t break. Success!

The Luminous Textured Check-In 24” had done it’s job. 

This check in had enough room to carry more than a week and half worth of clothing, shoes, gifts, etc… The only little gripe I had about its size was wishing it was expandable.

Overall Thoughts About the Luminous Textured Check-In 24”

I really like this hard shell case. It did everything I hoped it would well, it looks great, and it’s a good value.

This case will definitely be our go-to for checked in travel, replacing our beloved TravelPro after a decade.

If you wanted additional features, we would recommend checking out the new Adventure line. It has one large compartment and it’s expandable!

Carry On Luggage

The LEVEL8 website features 13 different options for carry ons! 

Similar to the check ins there are:

• Luminous: Standard hardshell case with narrow handle. No additional compartments.
• Voyager: Similar to the Luminous line but features the wide telescoping handle that doesn’t impede on the packing area.
• Hegent: A modern take on a classic suitcase. Zipperless and opens through the middle.
• Adventurer: New design featuring a wide handle that doesn’t impede on the packing area. Expandable main compartment which is opened from the front of the case (when laid down) vs. splitting the case down the middle.

Additionally there are:

• Creator: Similar design to the Adventurer but adds a charging port(!) for USB C or A connected to an external battery that you provide.
• Roadrunner Series: Standard hardshell carry on cases. Features extra compartment in front for something like a laptop or tablet.
• Polaris: Attractive look and feel compared to the others with the wide telescoping handle. No extra compartment though.
• Freeloop: Minimal suitcase on wheels design. Zipperless.
• Gibraltar and Captain: Stylish aluminum, premium materials and design. Zipperless suitcase style.
• Capture (style we received): Traditional durable nylon material, not a hard case. Features a front compartments in addition to main compartment that opens from the top, not middle.

As with most products, the more expensive the collection, the more features you’ll find.

LEVEL8 Capture Carry-On 20″ Review

For our test and review we will be talking about the Capture Carry-On 20″.

Quick specs (ref: Level 8 website):

• Materials: Exterior: 1680D Nylon Fabric        
                      Interior: Eco-Friendly RPET Fabric

• Dimensions: 22.8”L x 15”W x 9.25”H (58 x 38 x 23.5cm)

• Weight: 8.4Ibs (3.8kg)

• Capacity: 40-46L

Love:

• Great build quality and solid materials
• Rolls and moves great on 4 (or 2 wheels)
• Expandable
• Front compartment keeps laptop safe
• Telescoping handle is smooth
• Good weather resistance
• Great value for the price
• Travel lock is designed well
• No scratches or dents (yet)

Meh:

• Where every pound matters, it would have been nice if this could have been even lighter
• Handle frame impedes on packing area of one of the main compartments

The Capture Carry-On 20″ is packed with features. It stands out amongst all of the LEVEL8 products as the most traditional styling. It reminds me of bags that airline crews use.

Initially, the first thing that catches your eyes is the black 1680D Nylon Fabric. It is both pleasing to touch but feels tight and durable.

Putting it up into the over head compartment, banging against other bags, and taking it back down had no effect.

The next thing to note are the front zippered compartments.

The top pocket works for smaller grab-and-go items like keys, pens, etc. The larger pocket can store a laptop, tablet, or folder.

Next, is the large main compartment. This creates a larger packing area, which I find more efficient for packing than a bag that opens down the middle in two smaller compartments.

Once opened, there’s a smaller zipper compartment for inside the cover for flat items. All in all, it’s well thought-out. All of the zippers work smoothly.

The best thing about the bag is that it’s expandable adding 6 more Liters of useable space. The expandable zipper can also function as a compression if you fill the bag to the brim, put downward pressure and zip this section closed. 

Here’s some side by side comparisons with our older carry-on bag, Revo 20″ and the LEVEL8 Capture Carry-On 20″:

Traveling with the Capture Carry-On 20″

I used this bag exclusively for all of my clothes, and for the test, I decided to max out how much clothing I could bring.

Then I stuck my laptop, charger, and other items in the front pocket, even though I would normally carry them in a separate backpack.

With the Capture Carry-On, I was able to bring a smaller cross body bag as my personal item to place under my seat. This was a pleasant surprise and bonus of the carry on, as I enjoyed carrying less on my back walking through the airport.

Walking around terminals, the Capture Carry-on glided smoothly around on its 4-wheel drive. Taking the laptop out of the front compartment was quick and easy.

Overall Thoughts About the Capture Carry-On 20″

Hands down, this is my favorite travel bag. Seriously!

To me, it’s the Goldilocks of bags. Thanks to its size and expandability, you can easily fit enough clothing for two weeks, when using compression packing cubes, and you’ll still have enough room for toiletries, shoes, etc. 

The Capture Carry-On can function as both a check in or a carry on bag.

It’s more expensive than some of the larger check in bags, but investing in quality and features is worthwhile. Especially if you know your carry-on will be your go-to for all of your adventures. And this is my new go-to bag for all of my adventures.

LEVEL8 Packing Cube Travel Set (6 pack) Review

The LEVEL8 website currently has two options for packing cubes:

• 4 Pack Set: Stylish, sturdy gray fabric with no compression. Meant to stack perfectly on top of each other to create a tidy rectangle.
• 6 Piece Set (what we received): Luxuriously sleek, multi-size set of compression-zip packing cubes in a muted green. 

Quick specs:

• 1 X SMALL, 2 X MEDIUM, 1 X LARGE, 2 X EXTRA LARGE
• SMALL: 10.6″ x 5.9″ x 2″
• MEDIUM: 10.6″ x 8.3″ x 2.4″
• LARGE: 9.8″ x 14.6″ x 3.9″
• X-LARGE: 14″ x 11″ x 3.1″
• WEIGHT: 1.39lbs (Full Set of Six)

Love:

• Fabric is super nice, great quality
• Compression works really well!
• Zippers are smooth. 
• Great value for price

Meh:

• Wish there was a peek-a-boo window in each to see what you packed. 
• Only one color. NBD, but green? Really?

Packing Cube Travel Set (6 pack). We’ve had a lot of different packing cubes over the years, but I’ve never really loved any. The LEVEL8 packing cube system was the first that surprised me, in a good way.

The first thing I was impressed by was the build quality. The choice of fabric feels smooth and durable. It’s like material you’d find on a really nice rain jacket.

The fact LEVEL8 provides 6 total cubes is also great. This one set was more than enough to meet both of our needs. In fact, for our test trip, I only used three of the packing cubes.

Finally, LEVEL8 has made me a believer of the compression system. It works.

I did a test where I maxed out 3 packing cubes with clothing. Uncompressed, the bags were eating clothing like a monster with a bottomless pit. So much so that they could not fit in the carry on at first. But instead of switching to a check-in, I decided to compress each bag.

As you can imagine, it takes a little bit of force to help compress a full bag and zip up the expanded portion to make it smaller. If you’re able to do this, you’ll be rewarded with the bags shrinking about 30-40% from its original size. No vacuum seal needed.

Before compression zips are engaged:

After compression zips are engaged:

Magically, the same 3 packing cubes easily fit in the Capture Carry-on with more room to spare!

Overall Thoughts About the LEVEL8 Packing Cube Travel Set (6 pack)

I think these cubes will be a a game changer for me. These are my first set of compression packing cubes, and I get it now.

These look and feel great and ultimately do their job well, holding a lot of your clothes in the most efficient way possible.

If I had small gripe and truly, it’s small: I wish they had created a way to know what was in each bag. The dark color does not allow you to see inside the bag. Even a place to insert a reusable card or label would do the trick.

Overall, we’d highly recommend this packing system.

Final Thoughts About LEVEL8 Luggage and Travel Gear

In the crowded field of travel luggage and gear, LEVEL8 is making a name for themselves. Maybe it’s their attractive – dare I say trendy – minimalistic design. I don’t look like their models or even think of myself as fashion-forward, but their products look good. 

There is also a wide range of products to meet a variety of travelers and budgets.

But what I really care about is functionality, quality, and value. And I think most travelers do as well.

LEVEL8 hits all of those qualities with their products. The build quality and functionality of their products are excellent. I have confidence that they will last for many trips over the years and thus be a worthwhile investment.

That’s why we think LEVEL8 is worthy of consideration for your next luggage or travel gear purchase. Travel luggage is an investment, and you’ll want to make sure you get your money’s worth. 

Explore LEVEL8 suitcases and packing accessories here >