The Level8 Creator Carry-On Suitcase: A Review
If you’re looking for a sturdy but eye catching carry on to add to your travel gear, consider the Creator Carry-on by Level8.
This compact suitcase has been designed with bloggers, freelancers, and entrepreneurs in mind, thanks to the built in USB cords, dedicated laptop space, and easy access front compartment.
The interior of the case has plenty of room for shorter trips (or longer trips if you don’t pack your entire wardrobe!), with sturdy zippers, a recycled polyester interior, and silent gliding spinner wheels.
In the review below, you’ll find everything you need to know to help you determine if the Level8 Creator Case is the suitcase you’ve been missing on your travels.
The front of the Creator Carry-on with handle up
This post contains affiliates. If you purchase through the links below, I will receive a commission at no charge to you.
NOTE: A suitcase was provided to me by the company for the purposes of this review. All opinions are my own.
What is Level8?
Level8 is a luggage brand that is known for its helpful designs and simple luxury.
Their luggage is thoughtfully designed to serve the needs of a busy traveler, so that the suitcase and accessories help you on your journey rather than give you something else to worry over.
They use upgraded materials on all of their cases, including polycarbonate shells, solid metal YKK zippers, and 360 degree spinner wheels that are designed to withstand use on everything from airport floors to cobblestone alleyways.
I love that the company also uses recycled fabric interiors on many of their designs, including the Creator case I’m reviewing below and minimal packaging with recyclable cardboard.
Features of the Level8 Creator Case: At a Glance
Item: Level8 Creator Carry-on 20”
Hard or soft sided? Hard sided
Telescoping handle? Yes
Type of wheels? Spinner wheels
Number of inner compartments: 2 main with 2 smaller zippered sections
Number of exterior compartments: 1 main with 3 smaller sections
TSA lock? Yes, 3-digit code built into the design
Electronics compatible? Yes, USB cords attached, but power bank not included
Weight: 10 lbs
A Complete Review of the Level8 Creator Carry-on
While I was in Hamburg, Germany, with my sister earlier this year, my Mark and Graham monogrammed suitcase handle broke.
I’d been on the lookout for a sturdy carry on since then, but nothing that I found checked all of my boxes.
I wanted something rugged that wasn’t going to break easily, but was still eye catching. I also wanted a suitcase small enough that I didn’t have to check it, but large enough to hold several days worth of clothes.
And, I wanted some bells and whistles on it. No boring carry-ons for me, please.
Small size, big features
When I came across the Creator Carry-on by Level8 Cases, I was really excited to try it out.
It is a great size for a traveler like me, who prefers a smaller case that can be checked.
I will note that the description touts this case as 20” but the actual measurements are 21.3” H x 14.6” W x 10” D. I say this not to call out Level8 for mismeasuring (they didn’t!), but to make my readers aware that a 20'“ bag isn’t always 20” exactly due to the way that airlines measure.
Instead, you have to consider the suitcase’s linear inches, but all of that to say this suitcase meets nearly every carry-on standard in airlines currently
Even with a petite size, the case still remains large enough for me to include multiple days of clothing in it.
I’m a huge proponent of carry-on only trips, and have packed for 7-10 day trips to Scotland, Ireland, and Germany in one.
Exterior pocket
The pockets and cords in the front compartment
The other major component that led me to pick this case was the huge front pocket. When you unzip it, the front hinges forward so you have easy access to multiple smaller compartments.
These are great for putting your in-flight book, travel journal, printed out documents, and your laptop.
There’s a cord with both USB-A and USB-C chargers attached. These are conveniently located near the two largest pocket so you could easily put a power bank or phone in to charge.
The chargers also connect to a port on the top of the suitcase if you’d prefer to use a power bank in the pocket and your phone on the top.
NOTE: A power bank doesn’t come with the suitcase, which would’ve been nice, but you can purchase a compatible one for about $30.
Laptop Storage and Case
The suitcase comes with a hard sided laptop case, which fits perfectly into the largest of these pockets.
The laptop case unzips to fold flat, making it easy to present to the TSA agents for scanning if the need arises. There’s also a convenient handle on the top of the carrying case if you needed to use it separately.
Since I’m frequently on the road and in the air with my kids on our travels, having an easy to access area on the front of my suitcase is invaluable. I’m usually carrying a backpack with me to put all of these items in, but that front pocket allows me to keep my backpack home.
And who doesn’t like traveling lighter?!
Wide Handle
The handle is as wide as the entire case.
The suitcase doesn’t stop being impressive there.
The handle is so wide, and, although I wasn’t sure about it when I first pulled it out of the box, I am completely sold on it now.
I never realized how restrictive the smaller handles that come standard on most carry ons until I pushed around a suitcase with a very wide handle.
The handle spans the width of the suitcase, giving you more stability and an easier turning radius.
It telescopes up and down easily, thanks to the large button in the middle of the handle. Pressing the button requires very little pressure, making this a great bag for kids or those with strength or mobility in their hands.
Spinner Wheels
The 360 degree wheels on the Creator case
Combine that with the incredibly smooth wheels on this case, and you’ve got a suitcase that you’ll have no issues pushing for what feels like miles in these huge airports (Frankfurt and Heathrow, I’m looking at you).
The wheels are so smooth that my 9-year-old has had a blast rolling around on the top of the suitcase at our house. Definitely not its intended use, but we love a suitcase that’s multi-purpose!
Also, the fact that my kid has had the time of his life playing with this case and the wheels and suitcase have stood up to all of his flying around is a testament to the great construction of the carry-on.
The wheels do spin 360 degrees, which I love. I recently had a trip where I had to pull a borrowed suitcase that didn’t have spinner wheels, and my arms were exhausted by the time I got to my gate.
So, spinner wheels are a must-have for me. I love being able to easily push my suitcase in the airport, and the wheels on the Level8 are particularly easy glide.
If you’re in a place that you can’t use the wheels, there is a sturdy handle on the top of the bag.
Interior sections
There are 2 main sections once you unzip the suitcase.
The one to your left is shallower than the one on the right because the front exterior pocket eats up a bit of that depth.
You’ll still be able to pack in t-shirts, dresses, underclothes, and pants on this side, though I would probably save my shoes and really bulky items for the right-side compartment.
Both sides are secured with a mesh, zippered overlay. I love when suitcases add this extra bit of fabric to the interior as it helps keep my items more secure in transit and keeps them from spilling out everywhere the moment I open the case.
The mesh overlay on the left compartment has 2 smaller zippered pockets that are perfect for holding bathing suits, socks, jewelry, or flip flops.
The left side is deep enough to handle folded or rolled bulky sweatshirts, tennis shoes, hiking boots, or even a coat.
Overall, I’m happy with the set-up of the interior of the case, even with the left compartment being slightly shallower than the right side to accommodate the laptop pocket on the exterior.
The two interior compartments
Zippers
The zippers throughout the Level8 carry on are metal YKK zippers.
These zippers are very sturdy and have a distinct heft to them.
I have had other suitcases with flimsy, lightweight zippers or even plastic ones (yuck) that warped, jumped their track, or just broke.
The zippers on this case have worked perfectly and smoothly every time I need to open any of the compartments.
Final Thoughts on the Level8 Carry-on
I’m more excited about this suitcase than I probably should be.
While it’s still new, I can see it living up to the suitcase I bought while I was studying abroad in London and ended up being obsessed with. (That suitcase finally perished in Dublin after a decade of service, and I’ve mourned it ever since!)
The Level8 suitcase is, in many ways, even better than my previous suitcase thanks to all of the bells and whistles, easy spinner wheels, that huge front compartment, and the huge handle.
I am looking forward to exploring even more of the world with it.
Everyone knows that a good piece of luggage is key to a great travel experience, and the Level8 Creator Carry-on fills a huge gap in my travel gear!
