LEVEL8 luggage review: The Luminous Textured collection

After visiting nearly 100 countries over the past 20 years, I’ve become a self-proclaimed expert when it comes to packing. Whether it’s hacks like wrapping shower caps around your shoes to keep bags clean, the trick to staying organized (hello packing cubes) or how to fit everything for a two week trip in just a carry-on, I’ve done it all.

I’ve also tested dozens of types of luggage from rolling backpacks to soft-side duffels to hard and soft suitcases of various sizes, so I’m pretty picky when it comes to which bag I actually grab when it’s time to head off on another trip.

And lately, I’ve been reaching for my LEVEL8 set.

I was introduced to this New York-based brand in 2024 when they reached out asking me to review their popular Voyageur set, and honestly, it’s the bag I now opt to bring on all of my trips. Yes, I literally have a closet full of luggage, and this is the one I choose!

I was wowed by the smooth-as-butter 360° spinner wheels which glide easily through airports, its durability, and that the carry-on actually fits in airline sizers (unlike my Monos Carry On Pro Plus, which unfortunately is a tad too bag with the exterior pocket).

I trust it to hold all of my pricey electronics and camera gear on every trip, since the hard shell keeps everything well protected in transit.

The only thing I don’t love about it? The wide handle, which apparently is a somewhat polarizing feature. Some users absolutely love it, while I’m personally partial to a regular-size handle as I like to secure hand-luggage and backpacks with slip-through back pockets on it.

So, when LEVEL8 reached out again asking if I’d like to test another line of their luggage, I zeroed in on their Luminous collection, which has many of the same great features as the Voyageur but with a narrower handle (yay!).

Here’s everything you need to know if you’re considering picking up a piece of LEVEL8 luggage, how it actually performs on the road, and how their suitcases compare with other well-known brands.

LEVEL8 luggage review from the Voyageur collection — The LEVEL8 Voyageur Carry-On

Quick find

LEVEL8 luggage: An overview

First, a quick primer if you’re not familiar with LEVEL8: the brand focuses on streamlined, simple styling in their functional range of carry-on, check-in and soft-sided luggage, and also sells totes and accessories like packing cubes, luggage covers, laptop backpacks and baggage tags.

Their best sellers are:

LEVEL8 suitcases include a lifetime warranty for the shell, wheels, handles and zippers, and you’ll save money if you buy a set instead of individual pieces.

Use the code GLOBEGUIDE10 at checkout, and you’ll save an extra 10 per cent off anything on the LEVEL8 site!

What to look for when buying luggage

When you travel more than 100 days a year like yours-truly, you quickly realize there are some non-negotiables when it comes to picking the right luggage.

I personally opt for hard-side suitcases over soft-sided in most situations because the contents are more protected and it’s easier to stack things on top in transit.
I’ve watched many travellers awkwardly struggle with their suitcases on the airplane, trying to get down the narrow aisle to their seat and bumping everyone’s elbows along the way. Don’t be this person, and make sure your luggage has 360° spinner wheels so you can maneuver it sideways when needed!
Quality is crucial, as you definitely don’t want a zipper or wheel breaking in the middle of the airport
A smooth, telescopic handle with multiple height adjustments makes those long walks to customs more bearable.

Features of the LEVEL8 luggage Luminous Textured collection

As mentioned, I tested the Luminous Textured line this time around since it’s very similar to the Voyageur collection but with a standard width handle. It’s also one of LEVEL8’s top sellers.

The Luminous Textured comes in four sizes and six colour options (pending availability): there’s an 18” or 20” Carry-On, a 24” and 28” Checked, and classic black, gray and navy hues along with fun colourways like soft pink, a creamy white or green.

While dark tones are more practical due to inevitable wear-and-tear (have you ever watched them load luggage onto a plane?!), I couldn’t resist the pretty pink shade and grabbed the 20” model as my carry-on. The 18” is a safer bet to comply with the sizing airline regulations of no-frills carriers operating smaller planes, but the 20” will work in most cases.

For a checked size, I went with a 24” in grey, figuring it’s unique enough that it will stand out a bit in the inevitable sea of black bags that usually come down the conveyor belt.

The 24” is a bit smaller than a standard checked bag which is usually 26”-28”, and bigger isn’t always better. I find that the bigger the bag, the more you overpack which can be a problem when you’re suddenly facing overweight baggage fees or can’t fit all your luggage into the back of a small Uber. So, the 24” should still fit everything the average traveller needs without becoming too overwhelming.

The specs:

German-made Makrolon® polycarbonate hard shell
Ultra-quiet 360° spinner wheels
Aluminum alloy telescopic handle
Anti-scratch surface, thanks to its special diamond texture

There’s also a built-in TSA-approved lock to keep your gear secure, and interior compartments with a compression system and zipped compartments.

My hits and misses with the LEVEL8 Luminous Textured collection

The wheels

One of my absolute favourite features of LEVEL8 suitcases are how well they handle–they effortlessly glide through the concourse while making your way through the airport or hotel, even on thick carpet.

The bags are incredibly easy to maneuver thanks to the anti-shock, ultra-quiet features built into the wheels. Suitcases stay in a straight line while pushing them, which I hadn’t even noticed was an issue with my usual carry-on bag until testing the Level 8 version.

The interior

Other than the obvious sizing differences between the carry-on and checked options, the interiors are pretty similar. Both have a zippered mesh topper on each side to keep belongings contained, and the one on the left also has a couple of small pockets.

The checked bag sizes have a cloth divider and elastic band to help keep contents organized. Like most hard-shell suitcases, the handle takes up some space in the interior and is a bit awkward to pack around, particularly in the carry-on size.

As they’re a clamshell design, you have to be a bit strategic when packing since both sides need to be balanced, and small hotel rooms become tricky since the suitcase needs to be fully opened to access the interior and takes up twice as much floor space. I’ve only found one luggage brand that offers a flat-top opening on hard-shell cases to avoid those issues (Lojel), and that feature comes with a premium price tag.

Again, this issue isn’t unique to LEVEL8 bags; it’s just worth mentioning for anyone who might be making the switch from soft to hard luggage about what to expect.

Overall I’m very happy with all of my LEVEL8 luggage as they hold up well in transit, feel durable and well-made (especially the strong zippers and smooth-glide wheels), and will definitely be using the Luminous Textured collection on my next trip!

Globe Guide received compensation and products for review. As always, opinions are my own.