Level8 is known for its well-made travel bags that use durable materials, hardware, and clean designs.
I’ve reviewed the Road Runner Carry-On and they’ve become one of my favorite luggage brands.
Recently, I got to try their Aluminum Carry-On and am here to review it in-depth.
You may notice that there has been an uprising in aluminum suitcases due to their durable and lightweight quality.
It’s not as common as polycarbonate or fabric, and it is on the pricey end.
BUT I think luggage is about weighing up what's right for you and what you can or cannot do without.
Some things I’ll talk about include:
Rating: 9.5 /10
Let’s go!
LEVEL8 makes high-quality luggage that is simple yet functional in design.
The brand began in 2008 and is based in New York City, focusing on no-frills suitcases that are simply great at what they’re meant for, aka travel.
Their products are all minimalist, stylish, and extremely reliable.
Note that LEVEL8 does fall on the higher end in terms of price. While they don’t sell the cheapest luggage, I think the quality speaks for itself in that you will get what you pay for.
In fact, one of their bestselling bags, the Pro Carry-On, was awarded the Red Dot Award in 2021.
I would recommend buying the Aluminum Carry-On from their website.
LEVEL8 has free shipping for addresses in the contiguous US, the UK, and EU countries.
You can even return your purchase if for any reason you’re not satisfied with it.
Not to mention the amazing warranty service that is automatically activated when you buy the luggage from the LEVEL8 site.
You’ll need to register manually if you buy from an external party, like Amazon.
In most cases, the price will be the same on either the website or the official Amazon account, so you might want to compare based on the current sales or promotions.
I’d say that most travellers might benefit from the LEVEL8 Full Aluminum luggage.
It’s tough and durable, making it ideal for long-term adventurers going through rough terrains.
Despite being a carry-on size, this luxury carry-on luggage is still spacious enough with a capacity of 36 liters.
So whether you’re travelling for a couple of days or up to a week, you can still comfortably fit all you need!
It’s tough to say who shouldn’t get this luggage, because it really is super versatile in both function and design.
The only reason you might want to forego this carry-on is if you like to overpack your suitcase and like materials with a bit more give to them, such as with fabric.
This is because the hard aluminum material doesn’t extend outwards.
Get Your LEVEL8 Full Aluminum Carry-On Here
The Full Aluminum Carry-On 20” luggage is listed for $429.99, though at the time of writing it’s on sale for $403.99.
Now, a disclaimer that although we received the product from LEVEL8 and will get some commission from affiliate links, I always want to be fully honest with my reviews.
So everything you read is what I’ve personally felt and found from using the luggage myself!
Back to it…
Personally, I wouldn’t usually spend over $400 on luggage, though my partner tells me there’s merit in investing in something more expensive that will last you a lifetime.
I feel like that is the case with LEVEL8, particularly this Full Aluminum Carry-On.
The dimensions of this luggage are compact enough to fit in the overhead compartment of most airlines.
It’s spacious enough as is with an interior divider to pack your items.
The bag comes with a luggage tag and suitcase cover.
You will also get an organiser bag set consisting of four packing cubes, which is great to help you sort out your stuff.
With the organiser set, you have the option to switch out the tags depending on whatever you’re using each bag for. This includes an emoji tag for makeup, toiletries, clothes, and more!
But for me, the material is what sets this bag apart. Not only is the aluminum-magnesium alloy super durable and tough, but it’s lightweight and easy to clean or wipe down.
In terms of security, it comes with dual TSA-approved locks, which is excellent for a carry-on.
Now, I’ve tried the LEVEL8 Road Runner and Voyageur (their checked-in luggage model) for longer and can say that they’ve proven to be extremely durable.
The Voyageur especially has been through the wars and held up so well.
The only difference is that the Voyageur features a signature wide handle that I love. It’s not here on the Full Aluminum luggage, but after a while, it feels like the right choice because a wide handle doesn’t go with this aesthetics.
Everything feels neat and premium, from the stitching and hardware to the function of the bag itself.
Nothing exterior feels or looks cheap. Overall, I love how expensive and elegant this luggage looks.
It’s also well-sealed and water is going to run off this type of material easily, which is another bonus.
So, what exactly makes this carry-on a great choice for you?
First off, I love just how lightweight this luggage is, despite being quite roomy inside.
They tell you that it can pack up to a couple of days’ worth of clothing, but I think that the 36L capacity is absolutely enough for more. It’s all about packing smart!
The interior of the Full Aluminum Carry-On is minimalist with nothing overly complicated.
Two main compartments with a zippered pocket where you can place shoes or dirty laundry and keep them separate from your clean stuff.
These compartments are held down by boarded compressors on each side, both with netting, but are removable with the buttons if you prefer zero obstructions.
It will also make the space larger so you can pack even more!
This luggage uses aerospace-grade aluminum magnesium alloy, which simply means the material is high-performance with a great strength-to-weight ratio.
Essentially, you can expect a tough and sturdy bag that will withstand wear and tear well.
It will last longer in comparison to more standard luggage materials such as plastic or polycarbonate.
There are also crash-proof corner guards that will protect the bag from damage. This is especially useful in transit when you’re constantly travelling between places and rolling them on rough grounds.
Not to mention the stubs on the sides of the bag made of scratch-resistant material, keeping your luggage looking new even when it bumps into hard surfaces.
Plus, LEVEL8’s lifetime warranty also ensures that they know what they’re doing and are confident in their products.
This type of luggage is great for anyone like myself who travel with delicate items like camera equipment, musical instruments, and anything valuable that may need extra protection.
The dual locks are high-end and gives you peace of mind when travelling.
Plus, the bag is not closed by zips, a little bit like a Carl Friedrik suitcase (check out my review here). And I am a fan!
As mentioned, I adore the overall appearance.
LEVEL8 always does an amazing job in not overdoing their designs, instead creating something that’s clean and sleek.
It’s giving smart, business vibes that feels unique and will set you apart.
Another great feature of this luggage is the ultra-quiet spinner wheels.
They’re polyurethane wheels with Covestro AG Polycarbonate Case, which are super silent and durable.
In their own words, they’re “the best wheels you’ve never seen”.
And I can pretty much agree.
The wheels make it so easy to maneuver, even through cobblestone streets. The only downside is that because of how smooth they are, the luggage might roll away from you on an uneven surface!
(This happened to me once when I was taking pictures of the bag…)
Finally, the telescopic rubber handle is comfortable and adjustable to 4 settings, which is great no matter your height.
You have two added handles to pick up the luggage vertically and horizontally, making it easier to get down from the overhead bin or off the luggage belt.
These handles are soft-closing so it doesn’t slam onto the bag too, which is great.
The main con of this luggage is the price.
It can be quite expensive, especially if like me, you’re not used to spending so much on a single carry-on.
But now that I’ve tested it first-hand, I’m thinking of the money you’ll save in the long run by having only one durable luggage and not having to constantly replace it.
Basically, you have to weigh up whether you want to be replacing your luggage every so often.
Saying that, this is considered the lower end of the budget for aluminum suitcases, as there are those much more expensive from other brands…
Though the material is strong and durable, it’s not the type that is flexible so you can’t really overpack.
Here are my thoughts and impressions in bullet points after using the Aluminum Carry-On for the first time, and then three weeks later:
If you’re reading this review, you might be wondering about just one thing.
Should you buy the LEVEL8 Full Aluminum Carry-On Luggage?
I would say that yes, you absolutely should.
The burning question is whether aluminum luggage, both in general and this one in particular, is worth it.
If you are set on switching from fabric or polycarbonate luggage to aluminum, and want the best but cheapest option, then this is the perfect start.
I have to say that after trying out a few of their suitcases, LEVEL8 has yet to disappoint…
If you feel like the aluminum luggage is not for you, their other options are also equally impressive and worth it.
Get Your LEVEL8 Full Aluminum Carry-On Here
You will get a 4-bag set when you buy the Full Aluminum Carry-On, but LEVEL8 also has other organisers like a tech pouch and toiletry bag set.
The LEVEL8 Luggage Sets are great if you want to have both the carry-on and checked in versions of a bag. You can also choose from the luggage plus backpack set, depending on what you need.
Of their many travel-friendly backpacks, the Atlas Laptop Backpack is one of the best-selling ones. It’s stylish and comfortable while still being functional. At 31L capacity, this bag includes tons of fun and practical features that travellers will love.
That’s all for my review, and I hope you find it useful.
Have you ever tried this LEVEL8 Carry-On?
Comment and let me know below!
Check out some of these other reviews:
Leave a comment
Let us know what you think!