It’s been a while since I bought a new carry-on. For years I relied on my soft shell suitcase that has been a loyal companion through a lot of flights, buses, trains, and more airport floors I can count. This year however, it began to fall apart. A few forced trips into the hold damaged it, the wheels weren’t as smooth as they once were, and during its final journey, it was left out in the rain long enough to give its last breath.
I was on the market for a new carry-on suitcase, but I wasn’t actively searching for one due to lack of time. So, when an email from Level8 landed in my inbox, asking me if I would like to try out two of their carry-in suitcases, the timing couldn’t be more perfect. I had a trip to Tallinn coming up, which I thought was the perfect occasion to take them for a test.
If you’re currently considering upgrading your own cabin luggage, this might be a good moment to take notes or check out my Level8 Luggage review.
The Level8 Suitcases I Chose
For this trip, LEVEL8 sent me two models:
I chose to use the Voyageur myself, while my friend who I travelled to Tallinn with used the Grace. This gave us a great way to compare the two Level8 carry-ons, through the different designs, travelling style and our own experience. If you’re curious about how each case performs, keep reading or jump straight to the comparison table to see which one might suit your travel style best.
LEVEL8 Grace Carry-On Features
The Grace is the more feature-loaded of the two. It’s built from a ABS + Poly-Carbonate hardshell with a subtle, scratch-resistant texture, and instantly feels solid in hand. I loved the reinforced corners, which make the shell stronger when you are forced to check it in and send it to the hold.
The star of the carry-on, in my opinion, is its front laptop pocket, a full curved-zip pocket that gives extremely quick access to your electronics and travel documents without having to access the main compartment of the suitcase.
It comes in several neutral colours such as black, grey, or champagne. I chose the navy blue because it fits my style best.
After receiving the suitcase and taking the trip, I started noticing this suitcase in the wild quite a lot. And mostly in the hands of business travellers, which makes a lot of sense to me.
Key features include:
- Expandable shell for extra room on the return journey
- TSA lock for secure international travel
- Four double 360° spinner wheels
- Lightweight aluminum telescoping handle
- Interior dividers, zip sections, and cross straps
- Front laptop pocket
If you want a case that’s stylish, practical, and business-travel friendly, this model fits all the requirements. You can check out the Grace suitcase by clicking here.
LEVEL8 Grace Carry-On Review
Since my friend used the Grace throughout the trip, I had a front-row seat to see how it performed. At the airport, the front laptop compartment was so useful, especially at Tallinn where you still have to take your liquids and electronics out of the bag for the security scan. She breezed through security sliding her laptop out in seconds, and then putting it back in without any issues.
Rolling it through the airport terminal was easy too, as the wheels were silky-smooth, even when she moved it quickly over uneven flooring. On the return flight, she expanded the case to make room for a couple of Estonian souvenirs (she went a bit mad with shoe shopping), and the suitcase kept its shape well without bulging awkwardly. Even whilst expanded, it was still allowed on board as hand luggage.
From her feedback, the Grace is definitely the better option if you rely on electronics, appreciate easy organisation, or find yourself opening your suitcase often during travel. If that sounds like you, it might be worth taking a closer look at the Grace model by clicking here.
LEVEL8 Voyageur Carry-On Features
The Voyageur, which I used for the entire trip, is LEVEL8’s more minimalist, sleekly designed carry-on. It’s lighter than the Grace, with a smooth shell and a very clean aesthetic.
I loved that because of the wide telescopic handle, there is so much space inside the suitcase. The interior is very well organised, with two large sections on each side, closed by a zipped mesh. One of the sides has two extra pockets, out of which one is waterproof.
I travelled with the suitcase on the bus, train, as well as on the plane. The wheels glided easily on most of the surfaces. And let me tell you, whilst pavements in Tallinn are quite smooth, I can’t say the same about London. The wheels are so smooth that I remember playing around, spinning the suitcase, showing my friend how easy it was to handle, even when full. In fact, I thought it was actually easier to handle whilst full and heavy rather than when empty.
Its main features include:
- Lightweight Polycarbonate hardshell
- Smooth 360° double spinner wheels
- Slim, modern design
- Wide telescoping handle
- Simple, well-organised interior
If you prefer streamlined luggage with no extra compartments to manage, you’ll likely appreciate the Voyageur as much as I did. You can click here to check out the Voyageur range online if minimalism is your travel style.
LEVEL8 Voyageur Carry-On Review
I tested the Voyageur carry-on and loved how lightweight and easy to maneuver it is.
At the airport, it felt effortless to roll even if I packed a lot of things inside and it was quite heavy. Once in Tallinn, I tested it on every kind of surface: airport tiles, pavements, hotel lobby, and the city’s charming cobblestone streets. The wheels handled all of it impressively well.
The Voyageur Carry-on also comes with a TSA approved lock, which locks the zipper on the top. This would have been a great feature if I would have had to check in my bag in the hold.
I really liked the waterproof pocket feature, which can be used for storing toiletries without worrying they will spill inside the suitcase. However, I used it to pack my still wet swimsuit which didn’t have time to dry after my last day’s morning swim.
If you favour lightweight practicality over extra features, the Voyageur is well worth checking out.
The Flight to Tallinn
For the outbound flight, we both checked how each suitcase fit in the overhead bin. The Voyageur’s lightweight design made it very easy to lift, and the Grace, despite being slightly heavier, still slid comfortably into the overhead bin. The Grace’s laptop compartment made boarding especially stress-free for my friend as she had everything she needed accessible without opening the main case.
If you travel frequently and want a smooth airport experience, either of these suitcases would make your life much easier.
Both suitcases were allowed as approved cabin bags and we could take them on board with us for both flights.
We took the suitcases on a trip around the city, just to see how they perform on different surfaces.
Tallinn is the perfect testing ground for luggage. The Old Town is full of narrow stone streets, while the modern districts have wide pavements and transport hubs with different types of flooring. Both suitcases handled everything impressively.
- The Voyageur remained quiet and stable on all surfaces.
- The Grace kept its shape well and the wheels performed beautifully despite being packed slightly fuller.
After several days of walking, rolling, lifting, and packing, both suitcases looked just as new, a reassuring sign of their build quality. If durability matters to you (and honestly, it should!), LEVEL8 is absolutely worth considering.
Whilst in Tallinn, the weather wasn’t the best and it rained quite a bit. My Voyageur ended up navigating through a few puddles which left it very dirty. A simple wipe with toilet paper however was enough to get it back to its sparkling condition. Also, both suitcases are waterproof and none of the rain reached the interiors.
Comparison Table: LEVEL8 Grace vs LEVEL8 Voyageur (20″)
| Feature | LEVEL8 Grace Carry-On 20″ (Expandable) | LEVEL8 Voyageur Carry-On 20″ |
| Expansion | Yes – expandable for extra packing space | No – fixed capacity |
| Front Laptop Compartment | Yes – fits laptop/tablet, quick-access curved zipper | No |
| Wheels | Four double 360° spinner wheels | Four double 360° spinner wheels |
| TSA Lock | TSA lock | TSA lock |
| Weight | Slightly heavier due to added features | Lighter and easier to lift overhead |
| Handle | Aluminum telescoping handle | Wide telescoping handle |
| Interior Layout | Dividers, pockets, cross straps | Dividers and cross straps (simpler layout) |
| Design Style | Functional, feature-rich, business-friendly | Sleek, minimalist, stylish |
| Best For | Business travellers, longer trips, work travel | Weekend trips, minimal packers, style-focused travellers |
| Buy Here | LEVEL8 Grace Carry-On 20″ (Expandable) | LEVEL8 Voyageur Carry-On 20″ |
Final Thoughts: Are They Worth the Money?
After using these suitcases side by side, me with the Voyageur, and my friend with the Grace, it became clear that LEVEL8 offers excellent value for money.
The Grace feels premium, practical, and ideal for travellers with laptops or extra items they need to access quickly. The expandable design adds flexibility, making it perfect for longer trips or people who like options.
The Voyageur is lighter, sleeker, and wonderfully easy to handle. Despite being more minimalist, it felt every bit as sturdy as the Grace and noticeably more refined than many mid-range carry-ons I’ve owned.
If you are interested in buying any of the two Level8 carry-ons, you can use my code Joanna15 for a 15% discount. Click here to buy the Grace carry-on, and click here to buy the Voyageur carry-on.
What impressed both of us most was the build quality: smooth wheels, strong shells, comfortable handles, and well-organised interiors. These are the elements that usually separate budget luggage from truly reliable travel gear, and LEVEL8 nails them without pricing their products in the “luxury-only” bracket.
If you’re thinking about upgrading your carry-on, LEVEL8 is absolutely worth a closer look. Their cases feel premium, perform beautifully, and come at a price that makes sense, especially when compared to other brands offering similar features for significantly more.
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I love the waterproof pocket! As someone who has ruined a laptop with that mess, this seems like a game-changer. Looks like the Level8 luggage line has thought of everything. Thanks for the honest review. I’ll keep them in mind next time I am looking for a luggage upgrade.
Oh my goodness, a hard shell that you can actually access without having to lay it down? Game changer!
Interesting article. I like the Away carry-on. Not sure how it compares to the Level8 collection.
We’ve been looking at new luggage, and my husband just bought a July that he really likes, but maybe I’ll check out the Level8 next!
Great review, thanks!
Pinned this for later because I need a new suitcase. I used to buy cheap suitcases all the time, but they break so easily and they’re not always easy to navigate on difficult surfaces. I’m ready to start investing in a few high quality suitcases for myself and my family.