Can Level 8 Replace Premium Luggage Brands Like Tumi? An Honest Review

Level 8 provided this suitcase for review. However, this article is based entirely on my own experience using it during personal travel in Scotland, Spain, and Gibraltar.

For years, I assumed I'd keep buying Tumi luggage forever.

My old carry-on survived business trips, long-haul flights, and countless European city breaks. So when one of the wheels finally broke, I fully expected to replace it with another Tumi.

Then I saw the price.

With premium carry-ons now edging toward $1,000, I started wondering whether luxury luggage still justified the cost — especially for the kind of travel I do now: budget airlines, trains, ferries, road trips and frequent European city hopping.

That's what led me to test the Level 8 Voyageur carry-on during a recent trip from Edinburgh to Cadiz, Vejer de la Frontera, and Gibraltar, flying out with Ryanair, returning via London with British Airways.

My goal? To find out whether Level 8 could genuinely compete with the durability, practicality, and reliability I'd come to expect from Tumi.

Table of Contents

My Level 8 Carry-On Review Criteria

As I explored Cadiz, what surprised me most wasn't the price difference — it was how often I found myself preferring the Level 8 over my old Tumi bag.

First Impressions

As I opened the box to reveal my new luggage (delivered to my home within two days), the look, colour and styling were distinctly less 'corporate' than Tumi.

I selected the blue colour option, although the dark olive green was also tempting me! If you love bright colours, take a look at the yellow/black case option on Level 8's site.

The little yellow '8' logo is unobtrusive but an easy way to check that it's your bag (if you're storing it on a train or tram luggage rack, or hotel reception).

When I unzipped the case, I was impressed to see two equal-sized packing compartments with securing internal zips, and a very robust-looking handle system.

I especially loved the transparent waterproof pouches within the interior, giving me a secure place to store travel documents.

Packing & Interior Organization

The empty weight of the Voyageur case is 3.7kg (8.1 lbs), leaving me 6.3 kg (13.9 pounds) — plenty to stay within the limit of strict European airline carry-on policies.

The published available packing space is 43 L. Overall, I was surprised by how the Voyageur compared with my Tumi in terms of packing ease. I found the interior space of Voyageur more flexible and easier to arrange items within it.

So for 6 days, I had ample room for all of these items, with space to spare for any souvenirs I might spy on my travels:

I wore trainers (tennis shoes) to travel in because no matter what case you pack, shoes are always a space stealer!

The spacious interior also means that I will feel confident to take this case on longer trips — up to 10 days with smart packing! Check out more details on how to drop travel weight with our 10kg luggage tips article.

I did wonder if I was missing a trick not selecting the expandable feature but realistically it isn't at all useful when baggage size limits are so strict.

So, an expandable feature is only really useful if you don't mind paying to check in your bag at times or are flying with a premium airline that allows wider bags on board.

Security & Durability

Level 8 security is inbuilt and an upgrade from my old Tumi which had no lock system (although newer ones do).

It's very simple to set up with clear instructions and I think this is an essential feature for any luggage you're considering these days.

I also pop in an Apple AirTag just for additional peace of mind.

This is the first hard shell case I've owned. As a premium luggage alternative it needs to be scratch resistant and also stable.

I'm happy to report that I found the case very solid, especially when I packed something heavier (toiletries) on one side.

Durability matters even more when you travel frequently, which naturally brings up the question of warranty coverage.

Warranty Details

Tumi offers a five-year warranty on their website.

Level 8 quotes a 'lifetime warranty that covers functional aspects including shell, wheels, handles, and zippers'.

How the Level 8 Voyageur Performs on European Budget Airlines

I especially loved the 360-degree maneuverability from a 4 base wheel design. These wheels made all the difference when I got to Edinburgh airport and rolled up to the dreaded bag compliance 'test' contraption for Ryanair Cabin Baggage.

As advertised on Level 8's website, Ryanair limits for hand luggage are 55cm/40cm/20cm (21.6in x 15.7in x 8in) and 10kg (22lb).

My Level 8 suitcase fit perfectly, although I did have to make sure the wheels were turned inwards as the eye of the agent watched like a hawk before finally nodding his approval.

How the Wheels Perform on Cobblestones, Trams & Train Stations

Travelling around Europe takes a toll on any luggage. A first test was to see how Level 8 luggage wheels would perform on medieval cobbled streets in Edinburgh.

As I walked for 15 minutes to catch an Airport Tram from Princes Street, steering my Voyageur suitcase was a breeze.

The wheels were generally quiet although they were slightly noisier on rougher pavement surfaces.

Changing direction was smooth and I didn't have to tug it over a few uneven road and tram line crossings. I did pay attention to the easy to follow instructions that came with the case, advising users to LIFT rather than ROLL the wheels over rough terrain.

But, here's what really made my Level 8 case stand out when walking with it. The overall design is solid, with a super sturdy handle, spanning the entire top length of the suitcase and it has adjustable height settings.

I love this feature because, at 5'3", I've struggled with limited handle height options for years. This makes walking with a suitcase far more comfortable and better on my back and shoulders.

Overhead Bin Experience

This is an overhead bin suitcase, and being hard-sided (compared to the ballistic material Tumi is known for), you can't squash it into a tight space. However, it is lightweight and easy to lift up, using the helpful dual handle system and as mentioned fits into Ryanair bins.

I returned with British Airways via London Heathrow and had no issues all the way back to Scotland flying on A318, A320 and Boeing 737 aircraft.

I was fully expecting to miss my old Tumi within the first few days of travel — but surprisingly, I didn't.

Style Comparison: Tumi vs Level 8

Voyageur feels more adventurous, sleek and modern than the Tumi. Although I value durability, the ballistic black was a bit boring! Tumi has a new line of brighter colours but at twice the price of Level 8, I'm not convinced it's worth paying 50% more.

The German Makrolon® polycarbonate used by Level 8 is designed to be light and durable and it's nice to see this combined with a good look vs traditional black luggage. Why does good-quality luggage always have to be black?

After dragging it over Edinburgh pavements and lifting it repeatedly into tram, airline & train storage racks, the shell still looked surprisingly clean with minimal visible scuffing.

My sister and fellow blogger was quite jealous when she saw it in person in Vejer de la Frontera and decided to test it a little herself around our hilly hotel area. She was also impressed!

There were a couple of scuffs when I arrived back in Edinburgh but when I wiped the external areas down, they were barely visible.

It might be a little harder with high usage to keep it as fresh looking as the Tumi ballistic material, but I will wait before I pass judgement yet.

Is Level 8 Luggage Value for Money?

At $259 (£259), this luggage is affordable, especially if, like me, you travel monthly. You don't want to spend a fortune but equally want quality so you're confident you won't be replacing it every couple of years.

I approach buying items like this on a per-use basis. So, let's say I spend $250, take 10 trips a year using this case. Then factor in a five-year lifespan (too early to say yet as I've just started using it), but that would mean the price per trip becomes around $5.

A typical checked bag fee will be a lot higher than this anywhere in the world.

Who Should Buy the Level 8 Voyageur Carry-On

If you travel for leisure, use budget airlines and want to avoid baggage fees, this case should work well. It's affordable if your budget is around $250 and the 4-stage telescopic handle is ergonomically brilliant for different user heights.

When Will We Use This Luggage?

What Kind of Traveler Should Spend More on Tumi

If you mainly travel for business and prefer soft-sided premium luggage that can squeeze into tighter overhead spaces, you may still prefer Tumi.

Final Verdict

After one trip, I'm far more impressed than I expected to be.

FAQs