Over the years, I have traveled throughout the United States as well as out of the country, including to Mexico, Peru (hello, Inca Trail!), Guatemala, England, and Canada. Many of my landscape photography adventures have been via car while others started with a long distance flight. Throughout all my trips, I have had good luggage, bad luggage, and, quite frankly, “scary beyond all reason” luggage. On one trip, my suitcase was literally filled with flaking plastic bits that got all over my clothes by the time I landed. But that’s a story for another time.
For now, I wanted to talk about a new set of luggage that I just discovered and fell in love with. I had the good fortune to test out the Adventure Series LEVEL8 luggage (affiliate link) while on my National Park road trip to Crater Lake, Lassen Volcanic, and Redwood National and State Parks. I put the luggage through the wringer as I traveled from state to state and am pleased with how it withstood my abuse. Here is my honest review of the Adventure Series LEVEL8 suitcases. Hopefully this will help you decide if these suitcases are a right fit for your next adventure!
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What Makes the LEVEL8 Adventure Series a Good Set of Luggage?
After testing out the LEVEL8 Adventure Series luggage for a solid week on the road, several things stood out to me. Here are five features that I really appreciated while using the LEVEL8 suitcases.
1. Ample Packing Space and Ease of Use
One thing I loved about these suitcases was just how easy they were to pack and use. Having a large open compartment made it super easy to put things in and take things out while on my trip. LEVEL8 has a unique telescoping handle design which also helps with storage. Instead of taking up precious luggage space in the center of the suitcase, the handles are wider and run along the edges of the suitcase. This allows for a greater packing capacity while not compromising the compact carry-on size.
There were also two zippered flaps that were not only good for storing small items, but also clasped together in the center to keep my clothes and items in place while traveling. In addition to the small storage, there is also an accessible panel right when you open the suitcase which could fit flip flops or a laptop. (If you like even quicker laptop access, the Road Runner Carry-On 20″ has a really cool compartment right in the front.)
I personally never like to put any of my photography gear in my checked bag. My tripod easily fit into the carry-on bag due to the wider handle design. I did have to take off my tripod head, which is typical in a carry-on bag, but once that was done, I didn’t have any issues packing it in near the bottom before adding my other camera gear, lenses, and clothes.
Having enough storage space is essential when planning a long trip. Between the 28″ suitcase and 20″ carry-on suitcase, my husband and I had plenty of space to share for our entire week long trip. Thankfully, the LEVEL 8 suitcases have a zipper around the body that allows for expansion, if needed.
2. Strong Wheels
As a landscape photographer, I travel through a lot of varied terrain. It’s really important that you have good wheels that can stand the test of time on your suitcase. The LEVEL8 wheels have been tested to endure 276,000 rotations with minimal wear. During my trip, the wheels traversed asphalt, concrete, hotel carpeting, and dirt without any problems.
My last set of luggage had wheels that were uni-directional, which made traveling through the Lima, Peru airport with two suitcases a huge challenge. I had to pull one suitcase on each side of me and they kept falling over and hitting my feet. With LEVEL8’s 360° directional wheels, you simply need to push your suitcase with one hand and it will get you where you need to go. This also makes navigating down a tight aisle on an airplane more manageable. I tore several tendons in my right shoulder this past year while training for the Inca Trail, so having suitcases that easily glide were a lifesaver on my most recent trip.
3. Security
Security can be difficult in any situation. In the old days, I purchased suitcase locks to attach to my zippers. It only took TSA cutting my lock one time for a random search to make me reconsider how I want to secure my suitcase. With the LEVEL8 security design, this is no longer an issue. The lock is built directly into the zippers, so there is no chance of you forgetting your lock. You still need to remember your combination password, but that’s another problem for another day.
While the zipper was a learning curve for me to use, once I got the hang of it, I loved how easy the suitcase was to lock. In Cusco, Peru, I had to leave my luggage with the hotel staff for a week while I hiked the Inca Trail. Thankfully the staff were very kind and trustworthy, but I would have felt better if I had been able to lock my luggage. The LEVEL8 Adventure series suitcases have the zippered locking technology on all sizes of their suitcases, which I love.
4. Compact Size
A good suitcase is easy to open in tight spaces. Some hotel rooms are tiny, and a camping tent is even tinier. One thing I loved about the Adventure series LEVEL8 carry-on suitcase was the opening. It has two straps that keep the lid open while you are digging in your suitcase.
I loved how convenient it was getting my stuff out while not needing to open the bag all the way. I also like consolidating what I pack when possible. As I was constantly changing hotels, the fewer bags I had to carry to and from the car, the better. The LEVEL8 suitcases fit beautifully in my car and were super easy to pull in and out.
5. Durability
Durability is a key factor when deciding on which luggage to get. I once had an overfilled suitcase burst open mid-flight. When I got to baggage claim, I found it wrapped around with a rope along with a note. The zipper had broken and I had to throw it away when I got home.
Clearly, I can be a little rough when I travel, as my focus is usually on chasing the next sunrise or sunset. Thankfully the LEVEL8 suitcases feel extremely durable. They have been drop tested on all six sides and have a Lifetime Warranty on the main structural components. While I haven’t had to use the warranty yet, it’s nice knowing that if the zipper and/or wheels break, I would be covered. LEVEL8 also provides FREE SHIPPING within the United States, which is a huge bonus.
I know that investing in luggage can be a large financial decision, and one that I don’t take lightly. Overall I am super pleased with the LEVEL8 suitcases. Not only are they beautiful, they are extremely functional and durable. After spending a week on the road with me through three National Parks, this will now be my go-to luggage from here on out. I can’t wait to bring it with me to Europe next year! Are you hoping to level up your luggage before your next landscape photography trip? LEVEL8 luggage might be just the fit you are looking for.
Happy Travels!
Juventa Vezzani
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