As a frequent traveller I know the importance of good quality luggage. I’ll never forget a budget ski holiday in my 20s when a wheel broke off my extremely heavy suitcase and I had to drag it on one wheel for what felt like miles through London and all the way to Heathrow. Travelling is stressful enough without having to worry about luggage problems. I was a flustered, sweaty mess by the time I checked in for that flight and had to buy an overpriced new suitcase while I was away. Never again!
I’ve been a big fan of Level8 luggage for years. I have the aluminium carry-on case which is just gorgeous, so I was excited to try out the Level8 Voyageur set.
On my recent holiday to Tenerife I took the Voyageur 28”. I do also have the Voyageur 20” but I didn’t need the extra case for this particular trip (we did well at packing light!)
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I was flying with Ryanair with my three children and we shared the larger suitcase between us. I chose the striking black and yellow colours and I’m so happy with them.
We’ll definitely be using the Voyageur 20” as a carry-on case for future trips as it’s the perfect size.
Here’s my Level8 Voyageur set review…
So easy to manoeuvre
I was travelling solo with three kids and the Voyageur 28” made this an absolute breeze. I was a little bit nervous because three kids and all our bags could have been a nightmare and I thought I’d need octopus arms to carry everything! But thankfully, this case made it so easy.
It’s so easy to push, pull, twirl and manoeuvre that my eight year old son took charge of it. We parked 10 minutes from the airport and it was a bumpy walk with lots of curbs and he managed it with no problems at all. The suitcase weighed just under 20kg so for a small child this is a big, heavy case but it was so easy. It glides along smooth surfaces with a tiny push and handles a rough car park, cobbles and curbs no problem.
Colour and design
I love the look and design of this case. It’s bright, bold and sleek. It stands out on the conveyor belt and it’s unique to have a different coloured top and bottom to a suitcase.
I really love the additional handle on the lid. It gives it more of a trunk feel, but it’s also really practical and makes it much easier to pick up.
The wheels are cute with the Level8 logo and the whole case feels slick and stylish. The Level8 logo includes the numeral “8” placed on a horizontal to look like two suitcase wheels. The number 8 represents infinity and the unlimited possibilities in life and endless exploration, which is obviously perfect for all the adventures this suitcase will be going on!
Wide telescopic handle
The wide, aluminum alloy telescopic handle is another unique design and makes it even easier to push and pull. It’s really comfortable to push this case and while it might seem like a simple difference it really makes pushing the case a breeze. The weight is evenly distributed on the handle so it’s not as much of a strain on your arm. I also really like the handles are all the same height, no matter what size case you’re using. This makes it easier to pull two cases in one hand.
The handle also doesn’t take up lots of bulky space in the middle of the suitcase when it’s put down. The handle goes to the sides of the case which makes much more sense!
Lightweight but durable
The Voyageur suitcases are made from Makrolon® polycarbonate so they’re lightweight but also strong and sturdy. The 28” Voyageur weighs 12.5lb (5.6kg) with nothing in it. This isn’t the lightest suitcase on the market but it definitely feels stronger and sturdier than many lighter versions, so this is a sustainable and long-lasting option.
TSA-approved locks
TSA locks are always handy to have, especially if you’ve got a transfer during your journey and you don’t know where your suitcase is going! Don’t forget to change the number combination on your suitcase locks to something you can easily remember. The default setting for TSA locks is 000 and I’d bet that most people never change them!
Quiet spinner wheels
These wheels are so smooth and quiet. We were travelling with another hand luggage suitcase and it was so noisy in comparison to the Voyageur suitcase!
The Voyageur suitcases have 360° spinner wheels and make it so easy to manoeuvre your suitcase around busy spaces like airports and train stations. This case will twirl around with ease, despite it being such a large case.
Interior compression system
The interior compression system is great and I love a suitcase that opens into two compartments, rather than just one big compartment. It’s especially handy when I’m sharing the suitcase like I was for this trip and I’ve got some tips below to keep shared suitcases organised.
Each compartment has compression straps to keep everything together and there’s a divider with a mesh pocket and a waterproof pocket.
This is really handy and so many suitcases don’t have a wet-dry separation pocket. I almost always have a few damp items when I’m coming home, whether it’s a flannel or a damp swimsuit. We always seem to be in the swimming pool just moments before leaving our accommodation so we always have soggy swimsuits!
I appreciated having two wet pockets so I could use one for damp items and the other for our liquids (just in case we had a spill!)
Textured surface
One thing I’m sure I’ll appreciate after a few journeys with the Voyageur suitcases is that the surface is textured, meaning it’s more resistant to scratches. Suitcases with a glossy surface can look worn and scratched after just a few uses.
What to look for in a good quality luggage set
If you’re on the lookout for a good quality luggage set (which I’m guessing you are if you’re reading this!) then I’ve listed below a few things to look out for.
A stackable set
For me it’s really important to buy my luggage in a set so it stacks neatly inside each other like a set of Russian dolls. Suitcases are bulky and if you can’t slot your smaller suitcases inside the bigger ones then they’re going to take up a lot of space.
Four wheels
I definitely prefer four wheels over two wheels on a suitcase because you’re able to both push and pull the case. I usually push it, which is only really an option with four wheels. It also means you can put the suitcases back to back and push two cases together with one hand, which is always very handy when travelling with a set and with young children.
The Level8 Voyageur wheels are a dream and glide along the smooth airport floor so easily!
Lightweight but strong
Your suitcases will usually need to be lightweight – especially if you regularly fly with budget airlines who restrict your weight allowance! If your case is particularly heavy then half of your luggage allowance will be wasted on the actual suitcase.
But, now here’s the deal breaker, it also can’t be too light. There are super-lightweight cases available but they can be flimsy and break easily. The wheels are often low quality and the handles are so light they break with a heavy suitcase. Not only that but they tend to topple over if you’ve packed heavy items at the top!
Colourful!
I know it’s tempting to buy a black suitcase but they can be so hard to spot when they’re sailing around the luggage carousel. I love these Level8 Voyageur suitcases in black and yellow. Yes, you’ve got the practical black that will never show the dirt and it looks simple, stylish and elegant, but you’ve also got this gorgeous vibrant yellow that gives off holiday vibes and will stand out wonderfully on the carousel!
Easy to clean
One of the nice things about hard shell suitcases is they’re much easier to clean than soft shell. It might not seem so important when you’re buying your case but it’ll look new and shiny for longer if you’re able to clean it.
Travel Hack Tip: The Pink Stuff is a great cleaning product for cleaning hard shell suitcases. It’s gritty but gentle so it effectively gets the dirt off without ruining the shell of the suitcase.
Zips over latches
I prefer zipped suitcases rather than latches because they’re much easier to do up when your suitcase is bursting to the brim! Latches can be difficult to close when your case is a little overfull!
Hard shell or soft shell suitcases?
I prefer hardshell suitcases. They seem to last longer and it’s much easier to rest your hand luggage on top of a hardshell case.
Which airlines do you regularly fly with?
Before buying your luggage set, it’s worth thinking about which airlines you regularly fly with and checking their luggage allowances. For checked luggage it’s often more about the weight than the size but if you’re taking hand luggage then this is really important. The hand luggage sizes for budget airlines like Wizz Air or Ryanair is significantly smaller than British Airways or Jet2.
Read more: Everything you need to know about Ryanair cabin baggage
Tips for packing the Level8 Voyageur Luggage Set for a family holiday
If you’re taking the Level8 Voyageur Luggage on a family holiday then you’re probably going to be sharing the cases between you.
This can get a bit messy and disorganised but I’ve got some great tips for packing for a family holiday.
Write a rough itinerary for your holiday
Before I even think about packing my suitcases I plan a rough itinerary for our holiday. It doesn’t need to be detailed but when you know what you’re doing you know what to pack and having an itinerary will definitely stop you overpacking. You’re not going to think, ‘I need to take my hiking trainers, just in case’, if you know you definitely won’t have time to go for a hike during your holiday.
Always start with a list
Having a packing list will massively speed up the packing process. You’ll know what you need to buy and you won’t be randomly pulling items out of your wardrobe and making a big mess!
Use packing cubes
Contrary to popular belief, packing cubes don’t actually save much space but they do help keep your luggage organised which is vital when you’re sharing a suitcase between the family.
I like to give everyone one, large packing cube each. You don’t necessarily need to go out and buy packing cubes, you can simply use shopping bags or something similar if you’d prefer. You just need something to keep everyone’s items separate.
Read more: Are packing cubes worth it and do they save space?
Try everything on at home
Try everything on before you go and think about how it makes you feel. Anything that doesn’t fit properly can stay at home because you definitely won’t end up wearing it!
This is especially important for kids who have probably grown since your last holiday.
Pack outfits, not items
Rather than packing 3 x shorts and 3 x tops and 2 x skirts and a dress, pack 6x outfits.
You end up packing less when you pack a complete outfit and you’ll end up wearing everything in your case.
Choose lightweight fabrics
Avoid packing things like denim or chunky jumpers and opt for thinner materials, even if it means taking more of them and layering them up. They’ll take up a lot less space in your suitcase!
Weigh your case
This is especially important if you’re flying with a budget airline who have small weight allowances and will charge extra if your suitcase is overweight. You can get special suitcase scales which are really handy and you can take them with you and weigh your case on the way home too.
What didn’t you wear?
And finally, after each holiday it’s important to think about any items you packed and didn’t wear. It didn’t take me long to realise I never wore my high heels, jeans or extra jumpers, so I don’t pack them anymore and have much more space for the items I actually do wear.
In conclusion, if you’re ready to invest in a stunning set of striking, durable and easy to manoeuvre suitcases then I highly recommend the Level8 Voyageur cases!
If you’re interested in Level8 luggage, you can use the code thetravelhack10 for 10% off Level8 luggage!
Find out more at Level8cases.com