Level8 Luminous Textured suitcase review: The best carry-on?

As a traveller, one of the most used pieces of luggage I have is a carry-on. It goes with me everywhere, from short weekend trips to longer adventures (alongside my check-in). This also means it takes the most abuse, lugged around airports, shoved into overhead bins on planes, pulled through the tube barriers, and so much more.

I have already tested Level8’s Voyageur cases and their aluminium case, and both impressed me. Holding up well on all my latest adventures. But I also wanted to try something of theirs on the cheaper end of the scale.

The Luminous Textured carry-on is one of Level8’s more affordable cases at £159.99, and at around 3.2kg, it is nice and light. What I wanted to find out most of all was whether it gave me everything I loved about the pricier cases, for less.

In this Level8 Luminous Textured suitcase review, I will cover the design, size and weight, usability, and value for money, so you can decide whether this is the carry-on for you!

About the Level8 textured carry-on

The Luminous Textured collection from Level8 comes in a few different sizes and colours. Here is an overview of the collection:

• Sizes: 18-inch and 20-inch cabin sizes, plus 24-inch and 28-inch checked versions if you want a matching set
• Shell: German Makrolon polycarbonate, with a fine diamond texture moulded in to help mask everyday scratches and scuffs
• Colours: Olivine, Black, Grey, Navy, Pink, and White
• Wheels: four 360-degree spinner wheels
• Security: TSA-approved combination lock
• Interior: fully lined, with a divider, and zipped pockets
• Warranty: lifetime cover on the shell, wheels, handles, and zippers
• Design awards: Red Dot and iF design award winner

My experience

I have been putting the 20-inch Luminous Textured carry-on through its paces over the past few weeks, dragging it through London, on trains to my parents’ house, as well as on a plane to France. Here are my thoughts!

The design

I love how sleek and clean the Luminous Textured case looks. I got mine in white, which has a lovely, clean look with a beautiful contrast from the black zippers, handles, and wheels.

Because of the textured diamond pattern on the outside of the case, it has quite a matte look, and not at all shiny, which I prefer!

But the textured design is not just for show. The whole point of the textured finish is to hide marks, and I am pleased to say that it has so far been working! My glossy cases usually look scuffed within a trip or two, yet this one still looks practically new despite the usual knocks and scrapes of travel. The texture breaks up the surface, so the little marks just don’t end up showing.

If you want to coordinate your luggage, the Luminous Textured collection also comes in larger check-in sizes.

The size and weight

The Luminous Textured carry-on comes in two sizes: an 18″ and a 20″. Here are the dimensions for each:

• 18″ Carry-on: 34.8cm L x 23.4cm W x 51.3cm H | 3.2kg | 39L
• 20″ Carry-on: 36.8cm L x 23.4cm W x 54.6cm H | 3.5kg | 40L

The 20″ is a generous size for a cabin bag. It is light enough to lift into an overhead bin one-handed when packed. If you want to pack even lighter, the 18″ version shaves off a little weight and is perfect for short trips and airline weight restrictions.

The 20″ fits the cabin allowance of most major airlines comfortably, but the 23cm depth means it is too deep for Ryanair, with some of the strictest carry-on limits. As always, I would double-check the exact dimensions against whoever you are flying with before you book. For most of my travel, it has been absolutely fine as a cabin bag.

The usability

The Luminous Textured carry-on is a pleasure to use. The wheels glide across most floors, spin a full 360 degrees so you can steer the case one-handed, and they are noticeably quiet. Not completely silent, but quieter than most cases I have used.

As with any four-wheel case, it can be a bit of a pain moving it over cobbles or rough pavement, so I just tip it onto two wheels and pull it behind me instead. And the case always glides through this movement.

The telescopic handle is a three-step aluminium one and feels sturdy with very little wobble. I did miss the wider handle from the Voyageur cases, which I loved being able to rest my arm on, but I did like the fact that my rucksack fit perfectly over it.

The TSA-approved lock sits on the top of the case, which makes it quick to get into, and setting the combination is straightforward. Inside, there is a fully lined interior split by a divider, two zipped pockets for the bits you want to keep separate.

The value for money

At £169.99 for the 20-inch, the Luminous Textured carry-on sits in Level8’s mid-range. It is more affordable than the Voyageur (from around £259.99) and well below the aluminium cases, yet it doesn’t have a budget feel to it.

Compared to the wider market, it lines up against brands like Monos and Antler, and for me, the textured shell is the thing that tips it. You are getting a case that not only feels durable but also stays looking good for longer, which is genuinely hard to put a price on when you travel as much as I do.

Add in the lifetime warranty covering the shell, wheels, handles, and zippers, and you have a great value suitcase!

Review verdict: The best carry-on?

So, is Level8’s Luminous Textured case the best carry-on? Well, considering the price, design, and usability, it is definitely one of the best I have used, and it has quickly become my go-to.

The diamond-textured shell solves the problem that always put me off buying hard-shell luggage, and it does it without sacrificing any of the things I want from a good case. It is light, it rolls easily, the wheels are quiet, the interior is well organised, and it looks stylish and sleek in white.

It is a little too deep for the strictest budget airline limits, so do check before you fly with the likes of Ryanair. But for most travellers’ needs, it is perfect!