LEVEL8 Adventure Luggage Review: Is it Worth it?

Are LEVEL8 suitcases worth it? Read my review of the Adventure collection, including the best feaures, and pros and cons.

This fall, I got the chance to test LEVEL8 luggage on my travels. I had seen these suitcases before, so I was happy to finally try them myself and see if they really live up to all the positive reviews and recommendations.

We travel a lot, and often long trips that include several flights in a row. Our suitcases get put to the test during these journeys. After flying, we might still need to catch a train or walk to our hotel. That’s why it’s important for us to choose luggage that is durable, practical, and easy to move around, even on rougher surfaces.

Fom the LEVEL8 collection, I chose to test the Adventure Check-in suitcase and the Carry-on suitcase. They make a nice combination for longer trips while for shorter getaways, the carry-on alone is often enough.

So far, I’ve been really happy with both suitcases. They are easy to pack, roll smoothly, and feel durable. On top of that, they also look very stylish.

What is LEVEL8?

LEVEL8 is a luggage brand known for its modern, minimalist suitcases and travel accessories. One of its early breakthroughs was a patented laptop compartment designed with MacBook users in mind. Since then, LEVEL8 has grown into an international brand.

LEVEL8 was founded in the United States in 2008. Its luggage has received several design awards, including the Red Dot Design Award, the iF Design Award, and the International Design Excellence Award (IDEA). One of the award-winning products is the Adventure collection, which I am testing here.

When designing its luggage, LEVEL8 puts a lot of focus on user experiences. In addition to the Adventure collection, its range includes suitcases such as Voyageur, Luminous Textured, and Hegent, among others. LEVEL8 also sells packing cubes, luggage covers, luggage tags, luggage straps, and compression socks for flights.

LEVEL8 Adventure Collection

The LEVEL8 Adventure collection is the brand’s newest luggage range. It is designed especially for modern travelers who value practicality.

The collection includes one 20-inch carry-on suitcase with a capacity of 45 liters, as well as two larger check-in suitcases. The check-in models come in 24-inch and 28-inch sizes, with capacities of 74 and 96 liters.

The biggest selling point of the Adventure collection is its top-opening design, which was also what caught my attention. Especially in hotel rooms, it can be difficult to open large suitcases that split in half like a clamshell. Your belongings can easily fall out and get mixed up while you are opening and closing the bag. The Adventure suitcases take up very little space when open, which makes them much easier to use in smaller rooms.

The Adventure collection is available in black, black and yellow, brown, and celadon. I chose the celadon color, which is a light blue-green shade with a dark grey lid.

The Pros and Cons of LEVEL8 Adventure Luggage

When choosing a suitcase, it’s worth looking at both the pros and cons. There are so many different types of bags available today, and everyone has their own preferences and needs. I’m sure there’s a suitable suitcase out these for everyone.

I personally prefer upright suitcases because I can roll them alongside me while walking instead of always having to pull them behind me. For this to work well, the suitcase also needs a really sturdy handle, and luckily, the Adventure has one. At first, I wasn’t sure how I would like the wide design of the handle, but so far, it hasn’t been an issue.

It’s also important that suitcases are easy to lift, for example, onto a train or into the luggage storage areas. We travel by train in Europe quite often, and I’m also often traveling alone with the kids, which means most of the lifting is left to me. The Adventure suitcases have sturdy handles on the top and one of the long sides, making them easier to lift and carry.

Since checked luggage often gets quite rough treatment and is thrown around when loaded onto and off airplanes, it’s important to have a suitcase made from durable materials. My experience with hard-shell, ultralight suitcases is that after just couple of flights, you can already find a dented corner. The Adventure suitcase, however, is made from durable Makrolon® polycarbonate.

What I like most about this collection is the top-opening design. The suitcases take up very little space when open. When traveling with the family, it can sometimes be difficult to find enough room for everyone’s luggage in a hotel room. Another big plus is that the lid has support clips that prevent it from falling all the way over to the other side when open.

There are also small support feet on one of the long sides of the suitcase. If you want to place it on its side, they protect the outer shell and keep the suitcase standing securely.

The Pros

• The suitcases are made from durable German-made Makrolon® polycarbonate.
• The Adventure suitcases have a top-opening design, so they take up less space when open and help keep your belongings organized. The lid also has support clips to hold it in place when open.
• Every suitcase in the Adventure collection has an expandable zipper, regardless of size.
• The suitcases roll smoothly, even on uneven surfaces, thanks to their 360-degree spinner wheels.
• The adjustable trolley handle is really sturdy.
• The suitcases have TSA-approved locks.
• The interior lining is made from 100% recycled RPET polyester and includes zippered pockets for smaller items.
• The suitcases look really stylish and are easy to spot on the airport baggage carousel as they look quite unique.
• LEVEL8 suitcases come with a lifetime warranty covering the shells, wheels, zippers, and handles.

The Cons

I usually prefer ultralight suitcases because we tend to bring quite a few souvenirs and treats back with us when we travel to our second home Finland. These suitcases are little heavier than I expected, as many hard-shell suitcases nowadays are surprisingly lightweight. But maybe the materials used in some of those lighter suitcases are not as durable, which could explain why they get damaged so easily.

The Adventure carry-on weights 9 lbs (4.1 kg) when empty, while the two check-in suitcases weigh 11.5 lbs (5.2 kg) and 12.3 lbs (5.6 kg), depending on the size. Considering that the most common checked baggage weight limit for flights is 50 lbs (23 kg), I think that’s a little on he heavy side.

Besides the weight, I wasn’t quite sure what to think about the wide trolley handle at first. It’s not easy to hang a handbag or backpack from it as it would be with a narrower handle. However, I’ve noticed that the wide handle feels much sturdier when rolling the suitcase. Time will tell if I’ll miss having somewhere to hang my bag.

Another thing I’m always a little worried about with hard-shell suitcases is scratches from all the rough handling during travel. I haven’t noticed any scratches on mine yet, but if that changes, I’ll update it here.

• It’s not as easy to hang a backpack or handpack from the wide trolley as it is drom a narrower one.
• The suitcases are heavier than many other ultralight hard-shell models.
• LEVEL8 suitcases are not among the cheapest options.

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Overall, I’ve really enjoyed using these suitcases, and they seem to be holding up well. Being able to pack them from the top is really convenient, and this is also the first time I’ve had suitcases with TSA-approved locks. Based on my experience so far, I can definitely recommend the LEVEL8 Adventure collection to pretty any traveler.

How Much Do LEVEL8 Suitcases Cost and Where Can You Buy Them?

The price of the Adventure collection suitcases depends on the size. Prices start at $350 (310€) for the carry-on and go up to $440 (390€) for the larger check-in suitcases.

You can order suitcases directly from the LEVEL8 online store. Although I received these suitcases to test here in the United States, they are also available to buy in Canada, the United Kingdom, United Arab Emirates, Australia and in Europe. And the delivery for the bags is free.

I also have a nice little extra for my readres: a discount code! Use PAULA10 to get 10% off from your purchase. The code is valid for all LEVEL8 suitcases, not just the Adventure collection.

This could also be a great Christmas gift idea to keep in mind!

Have you tried a LEVEL8 sutcase, or what kind of luggage do you usually prefer?