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I’ll come clean … I’ve been holding off publishing this review for a while – mainly because I wanted to fully test the Level8 Road Runner 20″ Carry-On with Laptop Pocket under a range of conditions and trips – not only to test its features but also to test how versatile it is; I’ve tested it on the cobbled streets of Frankfurt, in the Arctic Circle and in the Canary Islands. In this post, I’ll let you know how it fared under various conditions.
I don’t usually accept products for review, but after doing some research into the company, I was impressed by Level8’s product line, quality, and design, so I agreed to test their products out.
If you want to skip to my overall conclusions, then scroll to the bottom of this post. If you want a more detailed review of how the case performed under different conditions and as a cruise embarkation day carry on, cabin luggage, business luggage, or for a weekend away, then read on.
Disclosure: LEVEL8 sent me the Road Runner Carry-on to test out. All opinions are my own. This blog post contains affiliate links and an exclusive discount code. (Enter ‘STEPH10‘ at checkout to receive 10% sitewide discount in addition to Free UK Shipping) If you click a link and make a purchase, I make a small commission at no extra cost to you.
Who are Level8?
New York City-based, Level8 creates, sophisticated yet practical luggage. Level8 recently started shipping to the UK which is why they might be a new name in the premium luggage market to you.
I’m all for investing in premium pieces of luggage which will last a lifetime, so I want intrigued to try Level8 products to see how they performed.
When you purchase a Level8 piece of luggage, you’re probably upgrading your current luggage and don’t want to compromise on style and quality when purchasing an investment piece. The great thing about the Level8 Road Runner is that it comes with a lifetime warranty – yes, you read that right. Plus, they now ship to the UK for free and seem to be well priced for the quality.
Here’s a bit more about the product I tested. Or alternatively you can check out the product here. Use the voucher code ‘STEPH10’ at checkout to receive an extra 10% off.
Road Runner Carry-on with Laptop Pocket 20” specifications
I chose to test out the Roadrunner Carry-on 20” with Laptop pocket as this seemed to be the item, I reckoned I would get the most use out of and it’s also a great entry-level piece of luggage to try out the Level8 products and brand.
I always think that a carry-on piece of luggage is the most hardworking piece of luggage you can own (and the perfect item to test out a new brand). Therefore, it pays to invest in one which will last you a lifetime and be versatile and stylish.
What are the Road Runner Carry-on Technical Specifications?
- Weight: 9.5 lbs (4.3 kg)
- Dimensions: 14.4”L x 10.1”W x 21.5”H (37cm L x 26cm W x 55cm H)
- Capacity: 38 litres
- Material: Bayer Makrolon (polycarbonate)
- Colour Options: Black, Navy Blue
- Warranty & Guarantee: Lifetime warranty that covers any functional damage to the shell, wheels, handles, zippers, or anything else that impairs use of the luggage.
Road Runner Carry-on Features:
- Front compartment with laptop sleeve
- Aerospace-grade Bayer Makrolon® Hard Shell
- Light, durable, and water-resistant
- Dual TSA-approved combination lock and front-pocket lock
- Ultra quiet 360° durable spinner wheels
- Suitable for most aircraft overhead compartments
Level8 Road Runner Carry-on with Laptop Pocket 20” Review
Initial impressions.
When I received the case, it was double boxed and came in a dust bag. After discarding the outer packaging, what emerged from the dust bag was a sleek piece of luggage which looked the part – both for business trips and holidays. The deep navy-blue exterior had a finish like an expensive car. A big thumbs up for me on the aesthetics.
It also comes with some monogram stickers to personalise. While I decided not to use these (I didn’t want anything on the exterior) – I thought it was a nice touch that these were included.
Regarding my initial impressions, on the downside the only ‘con’ I can think of is that there is a limited choice of colours in this version of the carry-on product (Black and Navy). However, if the laptop pocket isn’t a major feature for you, Level8 have quite an impressive array of colours in their other carry-on options.
How does the Level Road Runner Carry-on perform as a Cruise Embarkation Day Carry-on?
My first test was to find out how the Road Runner would perform as a cruise day carry-on. Cruise day embarkation can always be a little hectic and no matter how hard I try to pack well, when it comes to carry-on luggage – I’m always juggling multiple bags and unwieldly cases.
On a recent maiden voyage on P&O cruises Arvia to the Canary Islands the Road Runner seemed to fare pretty well. My carry-on items for cruise day usually include passports and travel documentation for everyone in the family (yep, I’m the one who organises), My Insta 360 equipment, cables, laptop for all my cruise content creation, valuables, and essential toiletries.
I was really impressed with how well everything fitted in. I also purchased these organisers and once again found them to be excellent quality – more about these later.
Just because things pack well, it doesn’t mean that the case is easy to handle. This was my next test. Again – I found the smooth wheels excellent for moving the case effortlessly up the winding air bridge ramp to the ship. The only problem is the wheels work so well that on an incline you’ve got to make sure that you hold tight to your case otherwise you’ll be chasing it back down the ramp.
Overall, the case was the perfect size to fit everything in and was easy to use. Plus, it kept my laptop protected and intact. The padded compartments in the laptop pocket were great and I also like the additional elasticated Velcro strap which added that additional level of security and prevented anything from slipping out and smashing.
It was also a breeze sailing through security – just a quick adjustment of the combination lock and I was able to access my laptop in a matter of seconds plus it was a breeze repacking it my laptop in the case after security.
How does the Level Road Runner Carry-on perform for weekend trips?
A short two-night trip to Frankfurt was a perfect opportunity to test the road runner’s versatility as a weekend bag. As this short trip also included flights, it was a perfect opportunity to see how this performed as a ‘hand luggage only’ companion for a short trip away.
Capacity wasn’t an issue, I was able to fit all my camera equipment, clothes, shoes, and toiletries and even a hair dryer into its spacious 38 litre interior. However, what let the case down is the weight.
While the Road Runner is extremely stylish, practical, robust and an excellent hard-working piece of carry-on luggage, the thing that lets it down slightly is the weight. At just over 4 kilogrammes completely empty, I was already using up half of my carry-on allowance with the case itself. Even when decanting all my camera equipment into my backpack, my carry-on case still weighed in at 11 kilogrammes.
If I was flying premium then this wouldn’t be an issue, however as I was flying economy, I was way over the limit.
So unfortunately, while the Road Runner carry on might perform well for an overnight business trip, for longer trips away, it may be at its limits as a ‘hand luggage only’ option (of course this depends on the airline and fare limitations for carry-on luggage weight).
The Level8 website provides a handy page with each airline’s requirements for cabin baggage, and I would always check with your specific airline to confirm what the limitations are based on the fair you have paid.
How does the Level Road Runner perform in on uneven surfaces?
On a recent trip to the Arctic Circle, I thought this would be an excellent opportunity to test the Road Runner Carry-on on the snowy streets of Bodo.
On snow it seemed to be able to handle this surface best by being pulled on two wheels rather than pushed on all four wheels. This was mainly because after a few steps the case acted almost as a ‘snow plough’ and became more difficult to manoeuvre.
However, when I transferred to two wheels, the case was able to handle this terrain perfectly plus the hard shell meant that all my belongings remained bone dry inside.
I also tested the case on a recent trip to Frankfurt with its cobbled streets. I was very impressed with how I was able to push the case along on all four wheels with just one hand, and very little effort despite the uneven surface.
How does the Level8 Road Runner Carry-on perform for business trips?
Immediately after landing back in the UK from Norway, I had to drive straight to an overnight business trip. With this little combo of back-to-back trips, I was able to test the true versatility of the Road Runner Carry on.
During the last night of my Norway trip, I decanted my essential items such as my business attire for the following day along with a toiletry and cosmetic organiser and my laptop.
Thankfully, with all the contents neatly organised and packed inside I was well within the 8 kg limit for carry-on luggage. Hoorah! This meant I was able to breeze through baggage reclaim with a smug nonchalance having successfully travelled ‘hand luggage only’.
Level8 Packing Organisers
So more about the level 8 packing organisers. After I had used the Road Runner a few times, I realised that the addition of some packing cubes would help to not only organise my different items into groups, but also prevent them from moving around too much when in transit. I found that this can sometimes affect the weight distribution.
While any uneven weight distribution (due to gravity) isn’t a problem when you’re pushing the case along on smooth surfaces (thanks to those fantastic 360-degree spinner wheels), when opening the case at the end of your journey, things do move around (as can be expected with any piece of luggage).
With this is mind, I decided to purchase a set of packing organisers specifically designed for the Level8 carry-on luggage. I have been very pleased with this purchase.
The LEVEL8 packing cube set is made up of 4 pieces:
- Extra Large Cube for clean clothes (46 x 31 x 10 cm)
- Large Cube for dirty clothes or shoes (31 x 23 x 10 cm)
- Medium Travel Cube for electronic gadgets and cords (23 x 15 x 10 cm)
- Cosmetic Bag for various cosmetic items (23 x 15 x 10 cm)
The packing cubes are made from two tone, water repellent, polyester fabric is also anti-mildew and there are also some very clever detachable rubber patches to help identify what each bag holds.
The cosmetic bag also comes with detachable interior dividers which are marvellous for configuring to your exact specifications and needs and perfect for organising your smaller cosmetic items.
Save 10% on your packing cube purchase here – Enter ‘STEPH10‘ at checkout
Conclusions
I have been very impressed with the quality of Level8 – both in the products I have been gifted and those I have purchased myself. The Roadrunner 20” with Laptop Pocket is wonderful for business travel, weekends away (if you’re not flying economy), and as a cruise embarkation day carry-on.
If the laptop pocket isn’t a main feature for you and you’d prefer more choice in colours, then I’d opt for some other carry-on pieces in their range – such as the Voyager Carry on which boasts an impressive range of colours.
The only downside of the Road Runner I can think of is the weight. If you’re flying – and want to travel ‘hand luggage only’ then you might struggle with the 4kg you’re left to play for all your gear on most economy flights.
What I loved most about the Road Runner was its aesthetics, and the easy release, yet very secure laptop pocket with TSA approved combination locks, – oh and those smooth wheels – those smooth, smooth wheels!
Overall, the Road Runner 20” with Laptop Pocket with the addition of those great packing cubes – makes for a powerful, hardworking combo which will be accompanying me on many trips and cruises in the future.
Read Next: EMBARKATION DAY TIPS
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