Best luggage to travel to Italy: Level 8 full review
We were attracted to the Level8 luggage but never had the chance to try it and review it. Well, it turned out to be one of the best experiences with hand luggage. In this Level 8 review, we highlight the best features these trolleys have and why you should consider them.
This guide will highlight the best luggage for travelling to Italy and the model we suggest you purchase before your trip. The accurate review comes from personal experience, with, of course, the pros and cons of travelling with luggage to Italy.
What kind of suitcase to travel to Italy?
Depending on the length and type of trip you are going on, luggage is mostly a personal preference. It’s true we often rely mostly on our backpacks, but when in Italy, we try to be as stylish as possible.
Think about walking through the streets of Rome with your carry-on, well-suited and matching the colours of your outfit. It’s something you want, right?
Well, the best suitcase for Italy must endure some challenges; not everywhere is smooth and the path clear. For instance, the picturesque villages often have roads mainly made of cobblestone, which can be quite rough. In cities, you want something that rolls on the pavement but still has a nice and clean look.
We found the perfect carry-on luggage for Italy in LEVEL8, a US based company that offers a lifetime warranty on their products. Even if you travel through these challenging areas, the sturdy 360 wheels will do the job, as we experienced first-hand.
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LEVEL8 Luggage Review: Personal Experience and tips
We have looked for the level 8 luggage for quite some time until we had the chance to try it while travelling. Definitely, it is one of the best carry-ons we have ever had. It was so smooth to run, and to be honest was fun, too. I actually used it as a “chair” at some point to rest, and it stood the test.
Well, before we get into the details of why we think Level8 is the best luggage to travel to Italy, there is a thing or two you must know about this US-based company. Our personal experience with Level8 luggage has been nothing short of exceptional, and we believe it can greatly enhance your travel experience as well.
Is LEVEL8 luggage worth it?
Yes, Level8 luggage is worth the money. Even though their luggage is sturdy and made of premium materials, the prices are affordable for such a product.
Where is Level8 based?
LEVEL8 is a US-based company based in New York City that has been offering hardshell luggage and accessories since 2008. It is one of the most renowned luggage-focused brands that prioritises design and premium materials.
Are Level8 luggage durable?
Yes. Level8 carry-on luggage proved to be one of the most durable of its kind. We tried it on different paths and conditions, moving fast through ships, taxis, buses and trains, and it won the challenges.
Does level 8 have a lifetime warranty?
Yes. Level8 offers a lifetime warranty, which covers many aspects of luggage and bags. They offer full coverage for any functional damage, with repair and even brand-new luggage sent for free. This means that you can travel worry-free, knowing that your investment in Level8 luggage is protected for a lifetime.
How to clean level 8 luggage?
As said, we tried the new carry-on through difficult challenges, and it came a bit dirty after all. The best thing is that it is easy to clean, and you need just regular washing liquid to wipe out the stains after the trip.
The Luminous Textured is waterproof, so you will not damage the inside. However, the hard shell is already made with a special diamond texture, which doesn’t attract much dirt and is less likely to get scratched.
Our review is based on the Luminous Textured Collection
We had to test the Luminous Textured Collection, one of the premium versions of their 20” designs. It is one of the most complete sets of their collection, with five colour variations and four different sizes. This is the best as you can combine the dimensions and colours or even add on later in the years as you need more.
We went for the 20” Pink and another in Navy Blue, to suit us fully. One thing that impressed us, and we will talk more about later, is the amount of space in a 20” luggage.
Why we believe that LEVEL 8 is the best carry-on luggage for Italy
When you travel to Italy you need luggage that surely fits all your clothes, nice dresses and add-ons. However, you must also consider that it needs certain features to overcome the challenges: stairs, cobblestone streets, good wheels for weight, handles that adapt and quickly close for transportation, ideal for carry-on trains in Italy.
Below, we highlighted some of the features we found LEVEL8 tick the boxes and make it the ideal carry-on luggage to travel to Italy.
You will travel with style
One of the missions of LEVEL8 luggage is to create the perfect design that matches durability and style. You can clearly see that their simplicity is the perfect minimalist style that will let you dress to impress Italy.
Simple luggage can make a difference in appearance, and when talking about a trip to Italy, you are definitely talking about incredible photos through the canals of Venice or the fashion streets of Milan. The minimalist style of Level8 luggage not only adds to your overall look but also reflects your sophisticated taste in travel gear.
Anti-scratch surface
Apart from the minimal design we love, we learned that the special diamond texture is an efficient anti-scratch surface. This unique feature not only adds to the luggage’s aesthetic appeal but also enhances its durability, making it a perfect choice for the rugged terrains of Italy.
I mean, the stylish design is great, but it needs to be durable as well.
Durability of wheels on difficult paths
Pushing a carry on through an airport is easy, but when you put the wheel to the test through cobblestone roads, it’s there that you see if these are really worth the money. Travelling in Italy through the fascinating villages could be a challenge with a heavy carry-on, especially if the wheels are not sturdy enough.
The level 8 carry-on luggage proved to be one of the best, the wheels are not just fantastic, they are exceptionally durable. You will not feel any friction. You will never feel any pressure on the wheels, even if your carry-on is super duper-compressed with stuff. Our hand luggage is usually about 10 Kilograms, and it went smoothly like no one else.
360° Wheels
We will still discuss the wheels. These are complete 360° spinners, which means they can rotate in any direction, allowing for easy manoeuvrability. You will glide along any surface and never feel held by stones or other frictions.
We often ditch carry-on and other luggage because they are impractical on uneven paths, but these bags proved us wrong. I mean, you pay a little more for premium luggage, but you get it working right.
Even when travelling outside of Italy, the LEVEL8 suitcases never let us down and carried our valuable stuff everywhere without complications. The four wheels, which are all double-sided for more stability, boost an anti-shock design.
However, the best feature that we highlight is that they are very quiet. While rolling, you don’t hear anything.
TSA-Approved Lock
The first thing we set up when we received the luggage was the lock. The LEVEL8 locking system is at the top of the luggage, pretty visible but resistant too. It is a TSA-approved lock. If you don’t know what it means, in short, it is an increased level of security approved by TSA, which is designed to be opened without forcing airport officials to check.
If you look closely at your luggage, there is a space for a special key, which is in the possession only of Airport officials and is made for formal inspections. When officials want to access your luggage, it is registered, and they will not force the luggage to do so. This will reduce the risk of damage or theft of your belongings, and it is more efficient than a traditional lock.
A lot of space and compartments
Opening the hard shell, you will find much space. Our 20” carry-on (this one) holds a 40L capacity and weighs only 3.5 Kg, which is more than we usually hold in our backpacks. The Luminous Textured Carry-on has two large compartments, both divided by dual zipper pockets.
On one side of the compartments, you will have two zip pockets to separate items and quickly access them. The carry-on doesn’t have the usual straps you find in similar luggage, which, in our opinion, is an add-on, as it makes it more organised.
To be honest, going back, we would like to try the other LEVEL8 carry-on with the laptop compartment. It is one of the most precious items we carry with us while extensively travelling and the sturdy hardshell is perfect to avoid shocks.
It is super lightweight
Before the LEVEL8 luggage, we always opted for a backpack or a small carry-on, as weight is important. We would rather carry our belongings on our shoulders than sacrifice something in terms of clothes or equipment. Well, the good news is that now, with the LEVEL8 carry-on, we can take everything with us, and with the ease of the wheels spin around without particular effort.
The design is fantastic, but the super lightweight, made from Makrolon®, a special German-made material, makes it ideal for travellers like us, always on the road. In short terms, the durability and quality of the material don’t mean that it is heavy, as proved with the Luminous Textured Carry-On, but it definitely can enlarge the definition of every luggage of this company.
Think about walking through the slippery bridges of Venice or climbing flights of stairs; it makes the effort an easy task because the luggage adds minimal weight to your carry-on.
Different dimensions for your needs
We mentioned already that our chosen carry-on from the LEVEL8 range has four different size options. In fact, you can select the one that is best for you between 18”, 20”, 24”, or 28”, or even mix and match those to have a small carry-on and check-in baggage.
The Luminous Texture set is perfect as family luggage for travelling to Italy. Below, we have included the overall dimensions to make them easy to understand. In the photo above, the dimensions are related to ours: 20”.
Lifetime Guarantee
It is fantastic to know that a company that values its customers has your back at any time. Level8 offers an incredible lifetime guarantee on its products. The commitment to quality of LEVEL8 is something to highlight, as it’s not every day that a company for such a product offers durability for life. The US-based company offers cover and all functional aspects, which include wheels, shells, handles, and zippers (including the internal ones).
Of course, the warranty covers only if there is any manufacturing defect but doesn’t cover if you misuse the purpose of the trip, neglect, accident, abrasion, acids, water, normal wear and tear, transport damage or exposure to extreme temperatures.
Of course, the warranty covers only if there is any manufacturing defect but doesn’t cover if you misuse the purpose of the trip, neglect, accident, abrasion, acids, water, normal wear and tear, transport damage or exposure to extreme temperatures.
The warranty covers cases where you need to repair the luggage or complete a replacement.
Approved as a carry-on for major Europe Airlines
If you are travelling to Italy with a budget airline, your carry-on luggage is a big problem. Currently, Ryanair and Wizz Air are reducing the size of the allowed hand luggage.
However, we found the LEVEL8 Carry-on luggage 20” borderline with the dimensions, and purchasing a priority ticket might work well. Taking companies such as British Airways, Easy Jet, Lufthansa, and similar, you will have no problems carrying your hand luggage on board.
Water resistant hard shell
The outside shell of the LEVEL8 luggage will leave you speechless. It is one of the most lightweight covers we have ever had but is sturdy enough to be classified as an aerospace grade, thanks to the use of Makrolon® polycarbonate.
Not only that, what we noticed is that the shell is water-resistant (notice, not the zip), which gives you peace of mind when travelling to Italy during the off season.
Telescopic handle
Every time I get a new piece of luggage, I try every function, and to be honest, the one that always disappoints me is the handle. It wasn’t with level 8, even after heavy usage through a difficult pathway.
The telescopic handle is sturdy enough and doesn’t jingle around, making weird sounds. It has three steps that modify the set height and completely hide within the design when in storage. 3-step aluminium telescopic handle with a swing range of less than 1 cm.
Two handles
You know, sometimes you have to carry on flights of stairs, so the two handles on the top and on the side are handy. These are sturdy and believe me; we had to carry them a few times.
Visiting remote villages in Emilia Romagna can be a challenge, and wheels can do well until some point. Having handles that don’t break in the middle of the trip is a smart move.
Free shipping and fast
If you order your LEVEL8 luggage, chances are that the delivery is for free. If you live in the US, the UK like us or Canada and Europe, the shipping is for free. Also, consider that compared to other companies, you will receive the luggage between 3 and 6 working days from the purchase.
Receiving it in the UK is super fast, reducing the processing to 1-2 days and shipping to 2-3 days at max. They ship only with premium vectors, and your luggage will arrive through DPD / DHL / UPS / FedEx.
You can complete the set with packing cubes
Visiting their store, you can understand how versatile their luggage is. You can easily combine colours, sizes and even models to mix and match with your family or existing luggage. Also, you can purchase set pieces that make life easy when it comes to packing. By purchasing the Luminous textured 2-piece set, you can put order to the packing chaos. Getting this add-on, you will get a 15% discount when bundled up.
Conclusion | Get a LEVEL8 for your next trip to Italy
We covered all the basics and more on why you need to level up your game with new luggage. Depending on your trip and travelling style, a trip to Italy can be challenging, but luggage can easily change the perception of fatigue when carrying your stuff around.
Bundling up and matching colours, you can have a stylish approach to the bel paese without compromising stability, lightweight, safety and resistance. Purchasing any luggage on the LEVEL8 store through this link gives you an extra 10% discount. Don’t forget to use our discount code: “italiantripabroad10”