Level8 Freeloop Vintage Style Carry On Luggage Honest Review

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Let’s face it, the suitcase market has really taken off in recent years with the likes of Canadian brands like Monos and Beis reinventing the wheel and releasing thoughtful luggage with personality and style.

But there’s a new game in town with Level8 Cases and I’m going to tell you what I really think about this luggage, what happened after using it, what I think they nailed, and what I think could be better.

So let’s get into it!

Level8 Freeloop Carry-On 20″ Overview

As a travel writer I travel a lot and I travel carry-on only almost all the time, so when I was picking out my new suitcase I knew there were a few things that were important to me:

1. An internal divider
2. A built-in TSA approved lock
3. An internal strap

I was initially drawn to the Freeloop 20″ because it was beautiful and unique. I liked that it was different from the other typical suitcases on the market and also thought it would look nice in pictures, which is important in my line of work.

But then when I looked a little closer and found it hit my list of key features I was pretty sold.

From the point of ordering to when the suitcase arrived was under a week. Level8 shipped the case from California using UPS so I was able to track the journey along the way.

The Freeloop arrived in a branded Level8 box with a couple of surprises inside. In addition to the case itself there was a branded translucent protective cover that I have affectionately dubbed “the raincoat”.

The raincoat fits the Freeloop perfectly and attaches underneath with some very sturdy velcro.

The other nice surprise was the beautifully understated luggage tag. I don’t usually use luggage tags as a woman who travels alone but this was nice so I threw it on the case. Unfortunately it kept getting caught in the case every time I tried to close it so eventually I took it off.

After removing the protective film my first impressions of the Freeloop were great! It’s just as beautiful in person as it is online. It seemed to be good quality. The box it came in was very banged up so I was concerned about damage but it was fine.

The only thing that I didn’t love was that it arrived with a few black marks on the corner but I was able to lift those off with a wipe.

So it looks great, but how well did it do its job?

The Outside

When it comes to the functionality of the case there are a few real winners. For starters, the wheels are great. The spinners are super responsive, smooth, and whisper quiet.

I’m prone to power walking through an airport and these wheels definitely held up. On carpet, stone, tile, and wood they did a great job delivering a smooth ride.

Another winner is the telescopic handle. I’ve had handles like this before that get stuck, don’t lock properly or aren’t sturdy, but this handle functions really well.

Now for the not so good..

Initially I was really drawn to the buckle closure of the case. I like the aesthetic and I like the function of the handy thumb lever that releases the buckles (kind of like a briefcase).

But, after over filling the suitcase and seeing the stress it put on things, I’m not 100% confident that it’ll stay closed when it’s very full, especially if I have to check it for any reason.

The way the case sides pull apart when it’s very full makes me wish there was a zipper. As someone who travels carry-on only, I need my case to handle being stuffed, especially on my return journeys and I’m not sure this will deliver on that long term.

However, if you are using this for short trips or as a carry-on to go along with a checked bag I think it’ll do the trick nicely.

And finally, after one use I managed to dent one of the reenforced corners which are advertised as “durable” so it’ll be interesting to see how well it holds up after a few trips.

The Inside

When I initially opened the bag I was a little concerned about the space inside. The poles jutting into the packing space, the large metal bar from the locking mechanism running along one side and the large blocks securing the handle all take up valuable space.

But when it came time to pack, I was pleasantly surprised.

I used the Level8 packing cubes and here’s what I was able to fit inside:

• Two pairs of jeans
• Two pairs of comfy pants
• Two t-shirts
• Three tops
• Dress
• Bathing suit
• Bathing suit cover up
• Handbag
• Wet bag
• Pajamas
• Hoodie
• Belt
• Pair of shoes
• Underwear
• Four pairs of socks
• Toiletries
• Charger and cables
• Canvas tote bag

When I decided to overpack I added an extra sweater and two more tops which the suitcase did hold, but it felt like the case might pop open.

Since all the materials are hard, there’s no give in the body of the case or the closing mechanism so whether or not it can hold the pressure remains to be seen.

I like the elastic hook feature on the divider because it allowed me to add more items to that side of the case without the restriction of a zippered section.

I also like the compression strap which actually worked better than I expected. The strap is made of a sort of seatbelt material which means it has no give (in this case, a great thing) and does a great job of holding things firmly in place.

The wet bag is a nice touch in theory. It’s great to be able to have a last dip in the pool before heading to the airport without having to worry about a wet bathing suit leaking all over the place.

But the wet bag is so small I’m not sure it really functions well so I decided to pack my usual wet bag instead.

What I Liked Most

One of my favourite things about the Freeloop is the vintage look. A lot of luggage is very same-same these days but the style of this carry-on really sets it apart. I’ve gotten a lot of compliments about the colour but also about how it looks vintage yet modern at the same time.

I also love the built-in TSA approved lock. My previous carry-on had a built-in lock and it’s an important feature that I look for. Having the lock built in takes all the pressure out of trying to keep track of a tiny lock while I’m travelling.

And the final highlight of this luggage for me has to be the compression pad and strap. Because I travel carry-on only almost all the time, I need a way to fit in things I buy. In Mexico, I’ve never met a market I didn’t like, and I always end up walking away with gifts, clothes, bags, etc and I need to squeeze them into my bag.

The compression pad has a sturdy frame and the strap allows me to push down bulkier items like sweaters or jackets, leaving room to fit in my new items.

What I Didn’t Like

One of my favourite things about this carry-on luggage is how beautiful and vintage it looks but there is a major design flaw with the appearance: the fingerprints!

Every time I touch the body of this suitcase it leaves smudges and fingerprints all over it. While this may seem pretty minor, it makes the suitcase look almost dirty, and really detracts from the overall beauty of the bag, plus it drives a perfectionist like me crazy!

Another issue I didn’t anticipate having is the lack of zipper. The way this case is designed, the two sides fit into one another to create a seal and the case itself is closed by two latches on the side. In theory, this should work fine.

But as I mentioned, I visit a lot of markets and I always leave Mexico with more than what I came with, which means my suitcase is full and sometimes, over full.

My previous carry-on on suitcase had a zipper closure and I would often fill it to bursting for my return trip, but as long as the zipper closed I knew my bag would make it.

With the Freeloop, the suitcase is completely hard and inflexible and I noticed that when I fill it to full and then add a few extra items it seemed like it was under stress. The seal of the two sides fitting together showed a gap and made me question whether or not it could hold on for the journey home.

While the case hasn’t actually popped open yet, it doesn’t feel as secure as the zipper seal on my old carry-on.

Finally, I’m not 100% sold on the durability of this carry-on suitcase. When the case arrived the box looked like it had been through the wars and the case itself had some black marks which I was able to remove.

But after one use one of the corner bumpers has a noticeable gash in it. Nothing major happened to the case to cause this, I think it was just bumped on a corner but it surprised me how easily it showed damage.

Although my previous suitcase was about 1/3 the price it was a real trooper. It showed a lot of marks but after countless trips, it never showed damage.

For the price point, I would expect the materials to be more durable.

Summary: Level8 Freeloop 20″ Carry-On

After some packing, repacking, and testing, overall I think the Level8 Freeloop is a good choice for a carry-on.

Appearance wise it’s one of the best looking bags I’ve seen around and when it comes to functionality there are plenty of thoughtful touches that level up the luggage.

I think the Freeloop is a great choice for mini breaks and business trips and works great as a carry-on for longer trips when you’ve got a checked bag doing the heavy lifting.