Level8 luggage review: is it worth the money?

Luggage… we all need it but with so many luggage brands and wide-ranging price points, how do you decide which to go for? I travel at least six times a year so am happy to invest in luggage that is durable, sustainable and that looks good! But just how much would I be willing to pay?

When luxury New York luggage brand Level8 got in touch to offer me a set of luggage to review, my honest first thought was ‘Oooh, they’re quite pricey. Would I have ever paid this much myself?’ Read on to find out!

Disclosure: Level8 gifted me the luggage featured in this review with no editorial input at all. What you’re reading in this post is 100% my honest thoughts on Level8 luggage. This post contains affiliate links, which earns me some commission at no extra cost to you. This post also contains a generous 15% off discount code for you!

Who is Level8?

Level8 is a luxury New York brand that was established in 2008, so it’s got a solid reputation – even if you’ve maybe never heard of it. Their luggage is sleek and simple in design but highly functional. They are made with durable, quality materials that stand the test of time.

From ordering in the UK to delivery – what to expect

Whilst Level8 is a US brand, they offer free shipping to the UK – which is excellent news as no one likes a big shipping bill added to the checkout. When you place an order on their website, it takes 1-2 days to process the order and then around 2-3 days to ship. Honestly though, I blinked and mine arrived!

Your order may be delivered by DPD, DHL, Amazon or another provider, depending on where you live. Mine was delivered by Amazon and whilst they had emailed me to let me know what day they would deliver, they actually delivered it a day earlier. So my advice is to keep an eye on your emails!

And if you’re concerned about the environmental impact of international shipping, Level8 offsets their carbon emissions from shipping, helping to minimise their impact on climate change.

When my order arrived it came in a sturdy cardboard box and the luggage was protected with a dust cover, helping to keep it in perfect condition. It’s also great for storing at home as we keep our luggage in the loft. The dust cover helps keep the luggage in pristine condition.

What I look for in a luggage brand

Genuinely, what I look for in a luggage brand is durability and sustainability first, value for money second and then style and design. Over the years I’ve had luggage from American Tourister, Tripp, Ricardo and Timberland and let’s just say two of these (I won’t say which) only lasted a few years. In fact, one broke right at the start of a holiday in Italy, which was a bit of a nightmare as it was the handle. I had to create a makeshift handle, using a plastic bag, to move my luggage around. Oh the glamour! So I will definitely pay more for quality that actually lasts.

Minimising the impact of manufacturing on the environment is really important to me so I love how Level8 uses recycled materials in their production. And their suitcases are built to last – meaning less suitcases going to landfill when their zipper breaks or their wheels don’t work anymore.

What makes Level8 stand out from other luggage brands?

This may sound silly, as Level8 is a luxury brand, but I was surprised at just how luxurious it looks. The design is so sleek and stylish and the deeper trunk really does make it stand out. It was super easy to spot my Level8 luggage on the carousel as it’s a different shape to all the other suitcases, making it distinctive.

The extra wide handles mean more space inside for your clothing and as someone who always packs more outfits than they’ll ever wear on holiday, this is a bonus. Plus the dual handles – one at the top and one at the side – makes picking up the luggage off a conveyor belt a breeze.

Key features of Level8 luggage

So what are the key features of a Level8 suitcase?

TSA lock

Did you know that a TSA lock is a type of fitted lock on luggage that allows the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) in the United States and other global security agencies to open and inspect your luggage without needing to damage your lock or the luggage itself? They have a master key that can open TSA locks if they need to conduct a security screening. Whilst you hope that doesn’t happen, at least you have peace of mind that your lovely luggage won’t be damaged!

It’s super easy to set your code and there are detailed, illustrative instructions included with your luggage if it’s the first time you’ve used a TSA lock.

Lightweight durable material

Level8 luggage is made from Makrolon®, which is a German-made scratch-resistant polycarbonate material that’s designed to handle the inevitable wear and tear that comes with travelling, yet is surprisingly light in weight. In fact, I think it’s probably the lightest suitcase I’ve ever owned. Which is great news as it means more weight allowance for clothes, shoes and all the goodies I love to bring back from my travels!

Wide telescopic handle

The wide aluminum alloy telescopic handle is a dream. It’s the perfect width to drape my jacket over, however… it’s probably not ideal if you like to hook a bag or a backpack over it. It’s very smooth to operate and easy to adjust to your ideal height.

360° spinner wheels

The 360° spinner wheels make walking with your luggage an absolute dream – it’s like gliding on ice. Not to mention they make barely any noise. As I’ve already mentioned, something that’s really important to me is the sustainability of a product. Unfortunately things happen and you may damage a wheel but with Level8 you can easily replace them. Inside the luggage compartment is a zipper that lets you access the wheels so you can replace them if needed. Brilliant!

Large capacity

The Luminous Large Trunk Luggage 28 inches has a whopping 99 liter capacity! Because it’s more deep than it is wide, at first I wasn’t sure about how big it really is. I can tell you, it’s huge! It has two different fully lined compartments with a divider that has two zipper pockets for smaller items.

With the packing cubes, I was able to fit everything in perfectly and neatly. The packing cubes come in six different sizes (from small to XL) and they can also be expanded to fit more in with the second zip. Mine came with my Textured Carry-on Luggage but you can also buy them separately. The design and the fabric of the packing cubes are super luxurious and I love the colour.

When you’re all packed and ready to go, it zips up and looks so neat and tidy! And when I had arrived at my destination, ready to unpack, everything had stayed in place too.

How did the luggage perform?

My first test run of using my Level8 Luminous Large Trunk Luggage was on a recent trip to Sicily. My husband had to go into the office that day so I was meeting him at the train station with both our suitcases. His is a totally different brand and whilst it’s a decent piece of luggage, the difference between his and mine was like night and day.

My Level8 luggage was an absolute dream to manoeuvre and felt incredibly lightweight even though I know it weighed about 17 kg with all my clothing and toiletries inside. Those 360° spinner wheels are an ABSOLUTE game-changer! I could easily swap hands, change it to a sideways angle or sometimes I even pushed it in front of me. My husband’s luggage, on the other hand, felt cumbersome and more difficult to move around. I was happy when he arrived and I could pass his luggage over to him.

Is Level8 luggage worth the money?

As I said at the beginning of this post, I was skeptical about whether Level8 is worth the money as I’ve probably never paid more than £100/150 before for a suitcase. Having used it on an 11 day holiday, which involved 4 flights, I have to say that it’s definitely worth the money.

It glides like a dream, which if you have to walk a lot with your suitcase, is a huge plus. No more dragging your suitcase behind you, putting a strain on your arms and shoulders. The 360 wheels mean that you can move it any way you want.

If you want to save a bit of money and get better value then order a set as you’ll save at least 20% more than on a single piece of luggage. My Level8 Luminous Large Trunk Luggage 28 inches is £309.99 on it’s own. However, if you buy it with the 20 inch carry-on it’s £389.99 for the two – which is a saving of £89! Note that this set comes in Black only. And if you want to save even more money…. you could get the set for around £264 with my 15% off code – WhatKirstyDidNext15.

But if you need a little more convincing…

• Level8 offers a lifetime warranty that covers any functional damage to the shell, wheels, handles, zippers, or anything else that means you can’t use your luggage. (it’s not covered if the damage is caused by misuse – for example, exposure to extreme heat or water)
• If you purchase from Level8 directly, your warranty is automatically activated.
• Level8 offers free shipping to the UK.

Get 15% off Level8 with my discount code

The lovely people at Level8 have offered my readers a very generous 15% off! Just pop my code WhatKirstyDidNext15 into the discount code box at checkout. Have a browse and snag a great deal with 15% off.

Happy travels!

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