For years, my only true luggage requirements were like, “Does it weigh less than 23 kgs, can I throw it on top of a bus, and will it still zip up?” But now at 34 years old, I go on some trips where I actually want to look like I have my life together. So I upgraded my old backpack to a two-piece LEVEL8 Voyageur set. Here’s my LEVEL8 luggage review so far.
This item was gifted and the post contains affiliate links. Purchases generate a small commission for me at no extra cost to you. In fact, in this case it actually means you get a discount! Thanks for your support.
My LEVEL8 luggage review
LEVEL8 luggage review overall rating: 4.5/5
I went with the 20″ and 28″ Voyageur set: two matching hardshell suitcases in Dark Olive. I’ve only just started using it and will come back to update ya later, but so far it’s basically perfect and I don’t have many negative notes. Here’s my tl;dr summary.
On an aesthetic level, it’s beautiful. I felt like an imposter walking through the airport with such a stylish, glide-y suitcase. I’m sure the flight attendants were all wondering why I wasn’t in the business class priority check-in line.
From a practical standpoint, also great. There are several pockets and dividers — I think I’ll treat myself to one of the packing cube sets eventually, too. It feels solid and I reallllly like the zipper, handle, and wheels.
The only “downside” for me is that it’s so big. I’ve been conditioned to be a light packer between years of camping and budget backpacking, so a big hardshell suitcase feels bulky. It fits under my bed, but I can’t slide it under, I have to lift the whole thing up. (Small apartment problems.) It also took up a lot of space in our Tesla Model 3 trunk on a recent trip to Vancouver Island! But it also fits like, every item of clothing I own.
LEVEL8 luggage bag weight
Weight wise, the 28″ check-in sized bag’s shell is light for a hardshell. Light enough that I could pack it to the brim with stuff and not worry about Air Canada’s 23 kg weight limit.
The carry-on is another story. But even my usual small laptop bag frequently pushes the boundaries of 7 kgs, so I don’t think any hardshell suitcase can get around the rule. (Though people always seem to get on the plane with them anyway!)
Ideally, I’ll just use the 20″ carry-on size for shorter trips and still check it in whenever possible.
About LEVEL8
LEVEL8 luggage is headquartered in New York, but the suitcases are manufactured abroad in parts of Asia. The company has won several accolades — a notable 18 awards in 8 years — including iF Design Awards and RedDot Design Awards. The Voyageur 20″ also made NewsWeek’s list of the best carry-on luggage in 2025.
LEVEL8 does free shipping to the US, Canada, and Europe and offers a lifetime warranty on their luggage.
Important note: If you buy through Amazon, most LEVEL8 luggage comes with a two-year warranty instead. But it varies by product so make sure you check the details before you buy!
The 20″ carry-on nests inside the 28″ check-in bag when I’m not travelling. Perfect if you’re a millennial who can’t afford to buy a house (or even an apartment with enough storage space).
Some alternatives to the LEVEL8 Voyageur line
For my LEVEL8 luggage review, I did also consider going with the Creator Carry-On with an easy-access but well-protected laptop sleeve. But the Dark Olive of the Voyageur called to me and I loved the set. If you’re into colour like me, the Textured Cabin Suitcase range has a brighter green and pale pink to check out.
If you follow them on Instagram, they post when the luggage is spotted with celebrities or in movies. For example, they used it in “The Girlfriend” on Amazon Prime with Robin Wright and Olivia Cooke.
LEVEL8 luggage pros and cons
Based on my experience, here are the main pros and cons to consider before buying a LEVEL8 suitcase.
LEVEL8 pros
- Passes standard airline carry-on requirements. I checked with the most notorious, Jetstar and Ryanair. Even Flair, Canada’s worst budget airline, allows up to 21.7” (55 cm) for carry-on. So the 20” LEVEL8 carry-on passes every test.
- Free shipping. LEVEL8 does free shipping on all orders to the US, Canada, and Europe.
- The set nests together for easy storage. This is ideal for small apartments or being less of a burden on your parents with all your stuff in their basement (me af).
- The zipper glides smoothly. Sounds silly, but it’s sooo nice to not fight with your bag trying to get it open.
- I love the super smooth 360 wheels. I’m a huge fan of the wheels for navigating airports. They’re also pretty quiet and stable on rough ground.
- The TSA lock is a dream. Historically, I’ve used my own locks not attached to my backpack and they’re easy to use and kinda fumbly. So having this built into the bag is ideal.
- The dry-wet pocket works. This is a small feature that’s perfect for things you can’t fully trust, like makeup remover or shampoo in non-travel specific containers.
- Love the chic-ness of a matching luggage set. Not unique to Level8, but still a pro in my books.
LEVEL8 cons
- The 28″ case might feel oversized for a short trip. That said, if you’re already an over-packer, this definitely gives you the space you need.
- The 20″ would be hard to fill and stay under 7 kgs. It’s also big for the overhead bin, but does fit. Just feels very annoying of me to take up so much space in the cabin. I’d rather check it tbh.
- My luggage got some scuffs pretty quickly. And only after moving in and out of the trunk a few times. But like, I think that’s just hardshell life. The Voyageur is durable, but not scratch proof.
- There aren’t many colours to choose from. Their striking yellow is nice if that’s your thing, the silver is sleek, and I love my Dark Olive. They have some other colours, too. But they don’t have the full rainbow of options.
- Would be nice to have a built-in baggage tag. Or really anywhere to put your contact details. But getting a custom one is easy enough.
Build, materials & security features
Ok, get ready for some product speak in this section. It wouldn’t be a true LEVEL8 luggage review if I didn’t use some of the fancy marketing words and jargon.
The shell
The shell of my Voyageur set is a “German-engineered Makrolon polycarbonate” and the “Micro-Diamond finish” is nice. You wouldn’t be able to stick any stickers to it or anything, but it’s so sleek on its own, I don’t know why you’d want to.
It’s light enough that it doesn’t eat into my baggage allowance, but sturdy enough that I’m not worried about the luggage handlers tossing it around a bit.
The wheels and handle
The 360-degree spinner wheels are a dream. Maybe my top fave feature. They basically glide and make the bag so easy to maneuver around a busy airport. Important to me, because I swear every time I go to the airport it’s everyone else’s first day on Earth and no one knows how to walk.
The aluminum alloy telescopic handle extends smoothly and feels solid. I also really like that it’s a wider handle, which is one of LEVEL8’s signature design elements.
On the 28″ checked luggage bag, there’s an additional, smaller flexible handle on the front. It’s not clunky but you can kind of slide your hand under the handle. It makes it easy to grab your bag off the carousel or toss in the boot of a car.
Organization pockets
Perhaps a bit boring, but the wet-dry pocket is my favourite interior feature. I’ve used it for damp swimwear, flip flops, and toiletry bottles I didn’t trust. (I once got Bio-Oil all over everything in my bag, so I’m haunted by that.)
Then as someone who is absolutely not organized by nature but aspires to be, I love the compartment layout. You can get packing cubes, but you almost don’t need them because there are lots of dividers and pockets.
The zippers
Ok so I have epilepsy, and there are days where my one arm cramps up or shakes and is basically useless for a few minutes. I end up trying to do lots of things with one hand when this is happening. The LEVEL8 zipper is so solid/smooth that I could open and close my bags one-handed. It’s unlikely that you also need one-hand-friendly luggage, but you never know.
Security locks
I love a built-in TSA lock. My Osprey backpack was good to me for years, but I had to keep track of a small lock. I once packed it by accident and had to go digging for it when I was ready to lock up and go — not ideal lol. So I’m a fan of this built-in side part built to hold your zippers in place and keep the bag locked. Also so much better than the horrendous plastic wrap system I see too many people using!
The TSA-approved part means airport staff can open it with a key rather than cutting anything if they need to check the bag. Unlikely scenario, but best to avoid having your bag ruined.
Other LEVEL8 luggage reviews
I’m not the only one who loves my LEVEL8 luggage. If you can’t trust my word alone, I won’t hold it against you. But other LEVEL8 luggage reviews are solid, with a 4.7-star rating on Trustpilot.
Positive ones rave about the wheels (no surprises there!) durability, and warranty. Someone had a broken zipper and said customer service got them a replacement quickly. Lots of people have glowing feedback about the customer service team, and many have tested Level8 and gone back to buy more suitcases after a good experience.
The few negative Level8 luggage reviews are mostly about the return process. I can’t weigh in because I never needed to return the luggage, but it’s something to be aware of before you commit. Sounds like if you need to call on the warranty you’ll be fine, but if you’re trying to make a straight return, you might struggle.
All in all, is LEVEL8 a good luggage brand?
So far, I’m loving my new luggage set and would say LEVEL8 delivers on its promise with sleek, well-built luggage that isn’t insanely expensive. That’s the core takeaway of my LEVEL8 luggage review.
I’ll check in again after 6 months — after I’ve really put it through the wringer. They have a pretty solid 30-day return policy. So if you’re on the fence, it’s pretty low risk to order one and see what you think. Especially with the 10% discount code (RUNAWAY10). Let me know how it goes!
Naomi Lai
Naomi is a Canadian travel editor and writer with 13 years of international travel across Southeast Asia, Europe, South America, New Zealand, and beyond. She covers everything from budget backpacking to luxury travel — always from personal experience.
More about Naomi →