Looking for a new suitcase to use on your upcoming adventures? Picking out new luggage can sometimes be a stressful and overwhelming experience. That’s why we wrote this Level8 Luggage review to give you some insight on this brand! As full time travelers, it’s so important that our bags both comply with airline regulations and are actually practical. For the last few trips, we’ve been using our new Road Runner and Voyageur Carry-On suitcases from Level8. Here’s a complete breakdown of our experience to help decide if they’re right for you.
Our Level8 Luggage Review
Carry-On vs Checked Luggage
The first thing you need to decide is what size Level8 Luggage you need. For us, it was an easy choice because we always try to travel with only carry-on. This saves us a lot of time as we don’t need to drop our bags before the flight, or wait for them at baggage claim after. Here’s the link to their website before we go any further!
Honestly, it feels like every year the airlines are getting more restrictive on what they allow you to bring on board. That’s why it’s so important that you choose one which fits the size you need.
With that said, we completely understand that not everyone is heading out on a week long trip to Greece as we just did. You may need more than a carry-on if you’re traveling for a longer time period or with kids. Personally, we’re used to traveling light, even on extended trips!
We’ve been globetrotting pretty much non-stop for the past 7 years which you can read about here. Over the years, our style has certainly changed! We have upgraded from backpackers we were in Southeast Asia to a more slow nomadic life.
In this Level 8 Luggage review, we will be talking about two models. Here’s everything you need to know about the Road Runner and Voyageur Carry-On!
This article was made possible in collaboration with Level8 Luggage. As always, any opinions and recommendations remain our own.
Voyageur Carry-On 20″ (Brigitte’s Bag)
Name: Voyageur Carry-On 20′
Dimensions (including handle & wheels): 15.1”L*9.8”W*21.3H or 38.5*25*54.5cm
Weight: 8.1lbs or 3.7kg
Capacity: 43L
We picked this bag as we wanted something sleek and simple that maximized space, all while still being a Level8 Carry-On. The unique feature is the telescopic handle that is on the far sides of the top of the luggage. Typically, this would be in the middle, which takes up space on the interior of the luggage.
This small feature gave us so much more room inside the suitcase to pack everything we need! While we do travel light in comparison to others, we still try and make use of every inch of space. We always say we’re going to pack light to have room for souvenirs, but somehow that never seems to work out.
When opening the Voyageur Carry-On so it lays flat, there are two separate compartments secured with their own zip covers. We absolutely love this! It makes organizing and packing so much easier. This means there are essentially two compression cube sections that are built into the luggage.
Our last carry-on before switching to Level8 Luggage only had this on one side. This always made packing less organized. As you can imagine, if we didn’t open the luggage correctly one side would spill out.
More About the Voyageur Level 8 Carry-On
The two separate sections also make it super simple to zip up the bag. Basically, if all the zippers and sections close, then you will easily be able to get your bag to shut!
In the mesh cover there are two zip pockets which are great for keeping small items. We normally put all our important papers and travel documents here that we’ll need to access quickly.
Additionally, the micr0-diamond finish makes for a great protective case on the bag. The wet separation pockets are a nice touch as well just in case your suitcase in case you encounter some bad weather.
The last thing we wanted to mention in this part of our Level8 Luggage review is the TSA approved lock. As you’ll see later, this certainly came in handy when you hear how we had to check our bags during our recent travels!
→ Buy the Voyageur Carry-On 20″
Road Runner Carry-On 20″ (Jake’s Bag)
There are many reasons we decided on the Road Runner Carry-On for Jake’s suitcase. However, one of the main features that captured our attention was the unique computer slot on the front side.
When you first open the Road Runner Carry-On it has two large compartments which fit clothing and all your essentials. One side has the zip compression mesh, while the other has two buckles that compress your clothing.
As we mentioned, the big draw to this Level8 Luggage model is the computer section. The easily accessible front zipper has space for a 17 inch laptop!
Being the digital nomads that we are, we never leave home without our computers and electronics. It’s not so fun carrying an extra backpack with you, or trying to stuff your computer in with all your clothes. The front section of the Road Runner Carry-On eliminates the need for that so you can easily store your computer.
You also won’t have to worry about your things getting damaged with the German-made Makrolon polycarbonate hard shell case. The 360 spinner wheels worked like a charm, even on some of the older and rougher European streets.
As with the Level8 Voyageur Carry-On, this model also has a TSA approved locking system. This bag is great if you’re traveling with another large suitcase which you’ll be checking, and just want to just take your essentials onboard with you.
→ Buy the Road Runner Carry-On 20″
Our First Flight With Level 8 Luggage
Our first time flying with Level8 Luggage was quite interesting. As we mentioned, we always prefer to travel with a carry-on so we can avoid waiting when we land.
On this occasion, we flew Swiss Air from Spain to Greece with a layover in Zurich. Upon boarding our flight, we noticed that the staff was making every single passenger put their luggage in the small display to prove it’s within their requirements.
To be honest, we were somewhat surprised to see this! After countless flights around the world, it is so rare to see them actually use these. Obviously, we’re used to having our bags weighed during check-in, but never the actual size.
We will say that we were both holding our breath a little. Even if the dimensions of our carry-on matched the airline website, having to fit into the small grate is a different story!
When it came to our turn we put the Voyageur Carry-On in first. Since it doesn’t have the computer sleeve of the Road Runner, it was slightly thinner. The top of the bag went in fine, but it did get caught on the wheels in the back.
To be fair, the whole line was kind of a mess with how busy it was. She said it was fine as she could tell that it was just the weird position of the wheels making it too large.
If we weren’t being rushed we probably could have rotated the wheels to fit them into the Swiss Air display. After that, we weighed the bag to prove that it was within the carry-on weight limit.
Luckily, the flight attendant didn’t make us measure or weigh the second bag. This is probably because they look so similar that she assumed they were the same size and dimensions.
Losing Our Level8 Luggage
As we would find out, the reason they were going the extra length to measure the bags was because the flight was completely full. Since there was limited overhead storage, we would have to gate check our new Level8 Luggage.
This is never what you want to hear as a traveler! Of course, the point of going carry-on only is so you won’t have to worry about your bags getting lost. And well… That’s exactly what happened to us.
Now this has nothing to do with our Level8 Luggage review or the product itself. Yet, we have to tell you that Jake’s bag never made it to Greece! Even though they only had to move our two bags from the gate to the flight, only one ended up showing up in Thessaloniki.
Once we landed we filled out the paperwork and hoped that our Level8 Carry-On luggage would show up the next day. After some back and forth with the airline, we were reunited with our new bags just over 24 hours later.
Thankfully, we had planned to stay in the city for the first two nights before starting our Halkidiki road trip. Otherwise, we may have not seen our bags until we were jumping on a flight back to Spain.
When we did get Jake’s Road Runner Carry-On back we noticed that it had got quite roughed up on the journey. At first we were worried it was damaged, but a quick wipe down took care of the scratches and dirt.
Summer Road Trip With Level8 Luggage
After returning from Greece, it wouldn’t be long until the next trip with our bags from Level8! However, this time we would be taking off on a European road trip instead of flying.
We recently bought a car in Spain (read more here), and yes it’s a convertible! This is where having Level8 Carry-On luggage came in handy again as the trunk isn’t so big on our vehicle.
We really enjoyed using our suitcases for this travel experience. The bags stored everything we needed, and it was always super easy to take them in and out for the night.
The Level8 Carry-On size also makes it easy to fit both bags in smaller hotel rooms along our route. This road trip took us from Spain, through France, and all the way to the Moselle Valley in Germany.
Level8 Luggage Review Comparison
Now that we’ve done multiple trips, we have had plenty of time to compare both of the carry-on items. So which Level8 Luggage model is right for you?
There are several features that they both have which are extremely helpful when traveling. The 360 spinning wheels make it so they quite literally glide down the street. This is especially important if you’re running late with flight to catch!
When traveling through the airport, we can easily stroll and push the case with one finger. We loved how easy both luggage models were to maneuver.
Another thing to mention is the completely flat top where the handle is. It was nice to put a purse, backpack, or camera bag on top and hold it together as one unit.
As you’ll see next in our Level8 Luggage review, we liked both of these bags for different reasons. So when picking out your own, you’ll need to factor in your own needs and travel style.
Road Runner Carry-On
This is our favorite for a general travel bag. If you are the type of person who wants to travel with carry-on only, but also have a sleek high end wheeling bag, this is the one!
The compartments are large and because of the handle design, and where it’s located on the exterior. The design also really increases the amount of space you have in the luggage.
Voyageur Carry-On
Jake loved this bag, and rightfully so! Nevertheless, we felt this Level8 Luggage model was more suitable if you are using it as one of multiple travel bags.
What we mean by that is it’s a great carry-on bag for flying. Yet, if you’re going on vacation for more than a few days, it may not have the space you need with the computer sleeve pushing out. It’s great for business travelers that need a carry-on and will also be checking a larger bag.
If you’re a light packer then this likely wouldn’t be an issue. You could also carry a small backpack for your computer which would give you a little more room in the main compartment for clothing.
Ultimately, the pros of the Voyageur Carry-On outweigh any negatives or limited space. Our electronics are ALWAYS the biggest stress for us on the road. Having a hard case that is padded on the inside makes traveling with a computer so much less stressful!
Is Level8 Luggage Right For You?
Hopefully, our Level8 Luggage review answered all the questions you may have about these products. We’re so glad we made the switch to roller suitcases, and these really fit our travel needs for this year!
At one point it just gets tiring carrying all your things on your back. While the Osprey Daylite 45 may have been okay for awhile, it was definitely time for a switch up.
The roller style suitcases not only saved us some aches and pains, but it overall looks more professional in our line of work. When you’re walking into a nice hotel, working with a 5 star river cruise, or heading to a travel conference, you definitely want to be looking good.
It was fantastic to get an experience with the Voyageur and Road Runner Carry-On both in the air and on the road. Just know that this wasn’t just a review! Currently, we’re still traveling with our Level8 Luggage in Germany.
While we loved the bags we picked, know that there are several other models to choose from. Be sure to check out the official Level8 website here. You can even use our code nothingfamiliar10 for a 10% discount on all products!
Have any questions about this article or want to share your own Level8 Luggage review? Leave us a comment below!
Safe Travels,
Brigitte & Jake
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