Level8 Carry-On Review: Is It the Perfect Suitcase for City Trips?
“I don’t abide by that 50-pound limit”
I love a good city trip. Give me a new hotel to check into, a restaurant I’ve had saved for months, and preferably a show or concert I can use as an excuse to book the trip in the first place, and I’m there. But while I love discovering new places, my travel gear surprisingly tends to stay exactly the same.
I’m incredibly loyal to my luggage. I had one enormous cow-print suitcase for around 15 years, and I loved that thing. There was absolutely no mistaking it at baggage claim. While everyone else was trying to figure out which black suitcase was theirs, I could spot mine from the other side of the luggage belt. Eventually, more than one wheel fell off, and even I had to admit its traveling days were over.
My carry-on has had a similarly long career. I’ve been using my Samsonite for more than ten years, and for city trips in particular, my carry-on goes pretty much everywhere with me. When you’re dragging a suitcase through busy streets, train stations, subway stations, and occasionally up a staircase that Google Maps conveniently forgot to mention, the last thing you want is a huge suitcase slowing you down.
Unfortunately, during one of my recent trips to London, I started noticing that the wheels on my trusty Samsonite weren’t exactly rolling anymore. They weren’t particularly round anymore either, which is generally quite an important quality in a wheel. While I could spot my old cow-print suitcase from miles away, now all of London could hear me coming from miles away. I like attention, but there are limits.
So for the past few weeks, I’d been debating whether to buy another Samsonite or finally try something different. And then, with almost suspiciously good timing, Level8 reached out and asked if I’d like to try one of their carry-ons.
Why not? I’m adventurous... right?
A quick note before we continue: Level8 gifted me the suitcase featured in this article, but all opinions and experiences are my own.
Which brings us back to London. Apparently, this city needs to stop having so many good shows and concerts because I cannot keep traveling here every month. Thank you, Ben Platt and Hilary Duff, this time.
But it did give me the perfect excuse to bring my new Level8 carry-on along and see how it actually handles a city trip. Not just how much fits inside or whether it looks nice in photos, but what it’s like to drag through London, take on public transport, maneuver through busy stations, and live out of for a few days.
So, after more than a decade of luggage loyalty, was cheating on Samsonite worth it? Let’s find out.
Quick verdict: Is the Level8 Gibraltar Carry-on worth it?
Short answer: Yes. After taking the LEVEL8 Gibraltar on a three-day trip to London, I was genuinely surprised by how much it fit and how easy it was to travel with.
What it does well:
Fits a surprising amount
The wheels are ridiculously smooth
Sturdy and easy to travel with
What to keep in mind:
Heavier than a fabric carry-on
Slightly bigger than some European cabin allowances
No outside pocket for quick access
Convinced already? Shop the Level8 Gibraltar Carry-On and don’t forget to use code DUCHESS10 for 10% off your order.
For a closer look, let’s get into the details:
Unboxing the Level8 Carry-On and My First Impressions
As always, all new arrivals in this house are subject to a thorough inspection. Not a cat person? Just consider him a measuring tape. You now have a reasonably good idea of how big the box is.
I chose the LEVEL8 Gibraltar Aluminum Carry-On 20" in Silver because I liked that it was recognizable without being too “look at me.” The silver aluminum looks professional without being boring, and the subtle LEVEL8 orange details give it just enough personality to stand out.
When it arrived, it was a little heavier than I expected. To be fair, my current carry-on is fabric rather than aluminum, so of course there’s going to be a difference. That said, I did manage to carry the entire box up four flights of Amsterdam stairs by myself, so we’re definitely not talking too heavy either.
The suitcase came in a dust bag and was completely unscratched, which was honestly one of the first things I noticed. We all know how packages can sometimes arrive, so I was pleasantly surprised to see an aluminum suitcase make it through delivery without a single mark.
The locks also felt sturdy straight away, which is something I’m particularly happy about because my current carry-on doesn’t have them.
But the biggest thing that stood out was how easily it moves. Saying it rolls almost feels like an understatement because this thing glides. In the movie Miss Congeniality, they say a lady doesn’t walk, she glides. By that standard, this suitcase is currently the highest level of lady.
So far, so good. It arrived in perfect condition, looks exactly how I hoped it would, and the wheels have already set the bar pretty high. Not bad for the first five minutes out of the box.
Level8 Gibraltar Carry-On Specs, Features, and What Makes It Different
First, the basics. The Gibraltar Aluminum Carry-On measures 55.8 x 38.1 x 21.3 cm (22 x 15 x 8.4 inches), weighs 4.5 kg (10 lbs), and has a 36-liter capacity.
One thing worth pointing out, especially if you travel around Europe a lot, is the size. The Gibraltar is slightly larger than the cabin baggage allowance of some European airlines. We’re only talking about a few centimeters, but if you’re used to flying with airlines like Transavia, Ryanair, or easyJet, you already know those few centimeters can suddenly become very important when someone appears at the gate with a measuring frame. It’s definitely something I’d check against your airline’s allowance before flying.
I already mentioned the wheels, but they deserve another mention here because they’re probably the feature that surprised me most. The suitcase moves incredibly easily, and there’s almost no effort involved in pushing or turning it.
Another feature I didn’t expect to have an opinion about was the square handle. LEVEL8 specifically mentions its square shape, and when I first read that, I basically thought: OK, sure… as I’ve never really considered the shape of a suitcase handle before. Turns out, the corners actually make it noticeably more comfortable to hold. The more you know.
The suitcase also has two TSA-approved combination locks, although setting them did take me a minute. Most of the tutorials I found online showed a reset button, except there was no reset button anywhere on my suitcase, which briefly had me questioning my sanity. Eventually, a very helpful YouTube comment explained that newer models have an OFF/SET switch on the back of the lock instead. Once I knew that, setting the combination was easy. LEVEL8 actually has the full instructions at the bottom of the product page too, which I somehow completely missed. I genuinely can’t remember whether instructions also came in the box and I accidentally threw them out, so this one may very well be on me. Either way, if you’re also staring at your new suitcase wondering where on earth the reset button is, check the back of the lock or follow the instructions here.
Inside, the suitcase is split into two compartments, and both have mesh pocket interior dividers that zip closed. I really like this setup because everything is contained on its own side rather than immediately moving around the second you open the suitcase.
You also get a four-piece packing cube set and luggage tag with the suitcase. For a longer trip, I can definitely see myself using all the packing cubes, but for three days, I don’t need a separate cube for the one charger I’m bringing. I did use one for laundry, though, because I always like keeping underwear and socks separate. For a longer trip, when I’m packing more of everything, I can see the full set being much more useful.
There is one thing I’m curious about when it comes to packing. The LEVEL8 is noticeably thicker than my old Samsonite, so I expected it to feel much bigger inside. Strangely, when I open them both up, the LEVEL8 actually looks like it has less packing space. I think part of that may be down to the handle mechanism, which takes up quite a bit of visible space inside the suitcase, while on my Samsonite it sits more toward the sides.
Of course, looking smaller and actually fitting less are two very different things. The LEVEL8 has a 36-liter capacity, so I’m curious to see what happens when I actually pack it. This may turn out to be entirely an optical illusion.
How Much Fits in the Level8 20" Carry-On?
Now it was time to actually start packing. I’m not someone who lays everything out neatly on the bed beforehand and plans where it’s all going to go. I basically grab things as I go and Tetris my way through until everything fits.
I was a little skeptical about the LEVEL8 Gibraltar because, despite being noticeably thicker than my old Samsonite, it somehow looked smaller on the inside. And as I started packing, I kept grabbing things and thinking, Yeah, no. This isn't going to fit. This suitcase is definitely smaller. Except then it did fit. And so did the next thing. And the next.
That’s when I realized why it had looked smaller to me in the first place. With the LEVEL8 Gibraltar, you pack on both sides of the suitcase, so each individual compartment is shallower. With my Samsonite, I pack everything into one deeper main compartment, so of course it looks like there’s more space when you first open it.
For my three-day trip to London, I managed to pack an extra pair of shoes, two laptops, five tops, a dress, two pairs of trousers, underwear, and my beauty bag. I was genuinely stunned by how much I managed to get in there.
And somehow, there was still room for shopping. On the way back, I added two pairs of pajamas, a T-shirt, and a vinyl record, and everything still made it home inside the suitcase. Not going to lie, I did have to sit on it to get it closed on the way back, but it closed, so I’m counting that as a win.
Basically, the LEVEL8 Gibraltar looks way smaller inside than the amount of stuff it can actually hold. I don't know where it's putting everything, but apparently we've got a Mary Poppins situation on our hands.
The Level8 on the Streets, at the Airport, and on Public Transport
Now for probably the most important part: how is it to actually travel with? The first real test was getting through London, and I have to say, those wheels really are as smooth as I thought they were when I first took the suitcase out of the box.
All four wheels rotate really easily, so maneuvering through crowded streets, stations, and the airport was no problem at all. They’re actually so smooth that I had a few moments where the suitcase started slowly gliding away from me when I thought I’d already stopped it. So maybe keep a hand on it if you’re standing on anything that isn't completely flat.
Something else I was really happy about was the side handle. London and stairs unfortunately go hand in hand, especially when you’re taking the Tube and suddenly discover there’s no escalator. Being able to grab the suitcase from the side made carrying it up and down stairs much easier, and it was also really useful when lifting it into the overhead compartment on the plane.
And speaking of the overhead compartment, this was one thing I was actually quite worried about. The LEVEL8 Gibraltar is slightly bigger than the cabin baggage allowance of some European airlines, so I wasn't entirely sure what would happen once I got on the plane.
Thankfully, absolutely nothing happened. I flew KLM both ways, but on two very different planes. The flight to London was on a larger plane with two rows of three seats, while the flight home was on one of the smaller Cityhopper planes with a 2-2 configuration. The suitcase fit perfectly in the overhead compartment on both, with no squeezing, rearranging, or mild panic required.
Obviously, that doesn't mean it'll fit every airline or every plane, so I’d still check the measurements before you fly. But for both of my KLM flights, I had no issues at all.
My Overall Thoughts on the Level8 Gibraltar Carry-On
I’m really happy with the LEVEL8 Gibraltar. It feels sturdy, it fits way more than I expected it to, and after taking it to London, it definitely feels like a suitcase that can survive quite a few more trips.
Something I was worried about before traveling was scratching, especially with an aluminum suitcase. There are a few very minor scratches after London, probably from putting it in the overhead compartment and opening it on the floor, but you really only see them if you go looking for them. I was actually a little unsure about choosing silver at first, but now I think it was a really good choice. The light scratches barely show against the light silver, and I’m guessing they would probably be much more noticeable on a darker color.
There honestly isn’t much I didn’t like. I struggled with the locks a little in the beginning, as I mentioned earlier, but that was mostly a matter of figuring out how they worked and getting used to opening and closing the suitcase with them. Once I did, it wasn’t an issue anymore.
If I had to pick one thing I missed from my old suitcase, it would probably be the zip pocket on the outside. It’s handy when you want to quickly put something away without opening your entire suitcase. But even then, I had my purse with me and didn’t actually miss having the pocket while I was traveling.
There was also one small thing I hadn’t even considered before the trip that turned out to be really handy. Because the LEVEL8 Gibraltar is so square and has a flat top, you can put another bag on top without it constantly slipping off. I had a shopper with me on the way home, and it just sat on top of the suitcase while I rolled it around. Such a minor thing, but if you’ve ever spent an entire journey repeatedly putting a bag back on top of your suitcase, you know.
So yes, I’ll definitely keep using it. I went into the trip with a few questions, mainly about how much it would actually fit, whether the size would be an issue on the plane, and how quickly the aluminum would scratch. None of those ended up being a problem. The LEVEL8 Gibraltar surprised me in all the right ways, and I’m already looking forward to traveling with it again.
Bring on the next trip!
I hope this review helps if you’re considering the LEVEL8 Gibraltar for your next trip. If you have any questions, feel free to reach out.
Happy Travels!
More Travel Essentials
After using the same carry-on for more than 10 years, it was finally time to try something new. I took the LEVEL8 Gibraltar Aluminum Carry-On to London to see how much it really fits, how the wheels hold up on an actual trip, and what it’s really like to travel with.