Level8 Luminous Textured Check-In Suitcase Review
Disclosure: Level8 sent me this suitcase for a sponsored Youtube video + blog review. However, all thoughts in this blog are my own, and Level8 does not get to review this blog before publishing.
Luminous Textured Check-in 24” - Grey
Overview
I’ve gone through my fair share of suitcases over the past few years so when Level8 reached out and offered to send me a suitcase, it was one of those things that you are really happy to receive as an adult that you probably do not care for as a kid (it’s like getting socks for Christmas).
The more I travel, the more I realize how much I value the little things that make traveling a more seamless experience, and one of those things is the luggage and bags that I bring with me around the world. Having a solid suitcase is just one less thing to have to worry about when it’s getting beat up by cobblestone streets or getting tossed around by airline employees.
Level8 sent me a few goodies, but the star of the show was the 24” Luminous Textured Check-in bag.
Why I Chose This Specific Bag
When it comes to traveling by plane, I’m almost always checking a bag, especially for my photography trips that are usually no shorter than a week, and in most cases are longer. In those cases, the way I go about packing is that my check-in suitcase will hold all of my clothes, shoes, toiletries, and any larger pieces of camera gear I need (such as a tripod or gimbal or light). That leaves me with a pretty minimal setup moving through airports and planes, where my camera backpack is my carry-on that I put in the overhead bin and I usually will bring a sling bag as my personal item that goes under the seat in front of me for easy access. I know some people like to bring a carry-on suitcase and then another backpack as their personal item but when a flight is full and overhead bin space is limited, I’d rather not have to stick my big backpack underneath the seat in front of me so I use that bin space for my backpack so I have as much leg room as possible. I have yet to experience an airline losing my suitcase (knock on wood) so I continue to do it, and it’s what works for me.
At the same time, I hate massive suitcases because I am someone who will overpack it if I have the extra space and I hate not knowing if it’ll be overweight when I get to the airport. I also prefer a sleek and minimal design, so that is why the 24” Luminous Textured Check-in bag seemed like a great fit for my needs.
First Impressions
When I pulled the suitcase out of the box, the first thing I noticed is how lightweight it was. Then when you kind of start moving it around, you realize it also feels pretty sturdy and well-made. The wheels roll really smoothly and spin in a full 360, the handle feels good and has four different adjustable heights, and the diamond-textured design is really minimal and aesthetic. I went with the grey color because I wanted something a bit more recognizable than black when it is on the baggage carousel but it’s also not flashy by any means, but the blue is also really nice. The pops of yellow in the branding of the logo on the shell and the wheels are nice little touches as well. A few of my previous suitcases also didn’t have built-in TSA locks so that is a nice feature to have, and it is really simple to set up your own combination code.
When I opened it up, the inner materials felt very premium including the zippers, lining, and mesh compartments. I like the fact that there are two separate mesh compartments which just helps with organizing things while still being able to see what is inside without having to open them.
Detailed specs & features
The outer shell of this bag is made with German-made Makrolon® polycarbonate. What exactly does that mean? It means that it will be durable while also being lightweight, scratch-resistant, waterproof, and flexible if you slightly overpack. There will probably be longer trips I take in the future where I may not have access to a washing machine so knowing that I can slightly overpack the bag because it has some flexibility is convenient. Also, I’ve gotten caught in the rain while in transit between the airport and my accommodation so knowing that my clothes will stay dry is great for peace of mind. Now, would I put my cameras and lenses in this suitcase? Definitely not, but that’s not a knock on the bag itself — I’ve just seen how some airlines handle suitcases and I would not want to take that risk.
This suitcase has a capacity of 65 liters and dimensions of 17.5"L x 10.4"W x 26"H (including wheels), which makes it a great size for about a weeks-worth of clothes. At a weight of 9.8 pounds, it is lighter than a lot of other suitcases of the same or similar size which can be very helpful in potentially keeping your bag under the maximum weight limit when flying. The overall size of the suitcase is also really manageable to roll around airports and cities without being a burden. I’ve owned larger suitcases in the past and if they’re not well-made, it feels like they could break at any given moment. That is not the case with this one. I chose the 24” size because it felt like a good middle ground since I typically come home with the same amount of things that I pack initially , but for trips where I suspect I might be doing more shopping than I normally would (like when I went to Japan last year for example), I could definitely see the 28” size being better for that purpose. If you are normally go on trips during the winter that are longer than a week where you need heavy clothes and jackets, it might be worth looking into the 28” size instead of the 24”. Some of Level8’s other models also have options for larger suitcases, like their Voyageur collection.
The thing that I mainly fear breaking on a suitcase is a wheel because it has happened to me in the past and it makes for a miserable experience moving to and from airports and train stations — especially if it happens in the beginning of a trip. The 360° spinner wheels on this bag made for some really smooth and quiet movements through the airport and the streets of Istanbul. Istanbul has a ton of cobblestone streets and the wheels held up without an issue. I’m curious to see the longevity of them as they go through more wear and tear on future trips, but my first impressions were great.
As someone who needs to be somewhat organized at all times, and especially while traveling, having a divider for clothes and two zipper pockets for smaller things like toiletries or undergarments is really helpful. On one side, I typically like to pack lighter things such as T-shirts and pants, and I will put heavier items like sweatshirts, jackets, and shoes on the other side. The zippers and lining feel nice as well and it does not feel like I’m going to tear the mesh from the lining if I slightly overpack.
Final Thoughts
Having a good suitcase gives you better peace of mind when you travel frequently and it’s not necessarily an area where you should be looking to save as much money as possible to get the cheapest thing. I will say though, this suitcase is very really reasonably priced ($209.99) making it accessible for anyone who wants to travel in style. The Luminous Textured collection is just one collection of bags that Level8 has to offer, and so far, in my brief experience with this bag, it leads me to believe that their other products are just as good. I am looking forward to bringing this with me on more trips in the future.
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