I honestly can’t remember the last time I checked in a bag. I still do it sometimes, usually because I got carried away shopping wherever I went (after all, I’m only human). But a carry-on and a backpack have been my go-to for years now, whether it’s a two-week trip or a nine-day tour where I’m leading a group and living out of my luggage every day. That means one thing: everything I bring has to fit, hold up, and never slow me down.
That’s the standard I used to test Level8’s combo: the Adventure Carry-On and the Navigator Backpack, on a recent trip through northern Portugal. A full week of moving from one place to the next.
What I look for in a carry-on and a backpack
First off, I don’t pick my luggage on looks alone… though good design never hurts. What actually decides it, every time, solo trip or group tour, are four things:
- As little weight as possible, because every kilo the bag weighs is a kilo less I get to bring
- Durability that lasts beyond the first month
- Internal organization that survives daily packing and unpacking
- Versatility across different terrain
With that list in mind, I went to see what Level8 had.
Why a Level8
I wanted to try something different from my usual go-to brands, and that’s how I found Level8. Don’t let the name fool you, though, they’ve been at this for a while. Level8 is a travel luggage brand founded in 2008 in the United States, built around durable bags for active travelers. Over the years, it’s picked up international design awards, including the Red Dot and the iF Design Award.
Review: Adventure Carry-On 20” (yellow)
I’m calling out “yellow” in the title of the Adventure Carry-On 20” because color mattered in choosing this one. After years of black suitcases, I decided my next one had to be different. There’s a reason behind that: yellow doesn’t get lost on a baggage carousel, which solves half the problem of spotting your bag from across the room.
Of course, what’s on the inside matters more than the color.
What also caught my eye is that the Adventure opens from the top instead of splitting open like a book, the way most suitcases do. That changes how you organize yourself in a hotel room.
On my last tour, for example, I shared a room with another traveler and had to work around a tight space. A suitcase that opens from the top instead of splitting in the middle just takes up less room. We were in Namibia at the time, and I wanted to keep the case closed as much as I could. This Level8 carry-on could have made that easy, no more wrestling it open and shut without spilling everything out.
The Adventure has more going for it. The interior is lined with recycled RPET, there’s a compression system for packing, and the center zipper expands the capacity by 5 liters when you need more room on the way back. That’s mattered a lot in my choice of travel bag, especially on longer trips.
The shell is German-made Makrolon®, light but rigid, and the 360° wheels run on precision bearings rated for over 276,000 rotations without visible wear.
One last thing, and this is a first for me, the telescopic handle (four height positions) runs the full width of the case, so it doesn’t eat into the interior space since it works along the case walls instead. Genius.
Is it worth it?
Pros
+Top opening makes for quick access without turning everything upside down.
+5L expansion when you need more space.
+Quiet, sturdy wheels, tested for uneven pavement.
+Comfortable wide telescopic handle.
+Lifetime factory warranty.
Cons
–Wide telescopic handle: not every backpack sleeve fits over it.
–No direct access to what’s at the bottom of the case.
Results from testing in August 2026.
Review: Navigator Backpack
Now for the Navigator backpack. This isn’t a backpack built just for the office commute. Sure, it has a padded 16-inch laptop compartment, but what won me over was the design and the fact that it holds up to rain and everyday wear.
The opening style is a plus here too. It unzips fully in a U-shape, which helps you find everything at once instead of digging around blind. The interior, also lined in RPET, has mesh pockets to keep small items in view, a ventilated shoe compartment kept separate from the rest of your things (handy, since I use the backpack alongside the carry-on so often), and a rear sleeve that slides right over the suitcase handle. Carry-on and backpack become one piece, perfect for the airport.
There’s also a removable camera insert, easy enough to take out when I don’t need it.
Is it worth it?
Pros
+Well-protected laptop compartment.
+Separate shoe compartment.
+Sleeve to attach to the carry-on, hands-free through the airport.
+Holds up to rain and constant use.
Cons
–Size may not qualify as a personal item on low-cost airlines.
–Not built for prolonged, heavy rain.
Results from testing in August 2026.
The Adventure and Navigator on the road
On a recent trip to Alto Minho, Portugal, for the Vodafone Paredes de Coura festival, this combo turned out to be exactly what I needed. I drove into Porto with the Adventure and the Navigator. Since I was staying the full week, I fit all my clothes and personal items into the carry-on. The top opening helped from night one, since I was sleeping on a friend’s couch and could grab what I needed without spreading everything out.
But the plan was to camp in Paredes de Coura for the festival days, so I packed only what I needed into the backpack and wore that for the rest of the trip.
The tent wasn’t big, but the Navigator helped me keep some order in the middle of the chaos. The separate shoe compartment was a lifesaver too, it kept my dusty sneakers away from the rest of my clothes.
Level8 Adventure vs Samsonite Restackd
Before the Adventure, I’d been using Samsonite’s Restackd, so that’s the comparison I’m best placed to make.
| Features | Adventure | Restackd |
|---|---|---|
| Weight | 4,1 kg | 2,7 kg |
| Dimensions | 54cm x 39cm x 26cm | 55cm x 40cm x 20cm |
| Capacity | 45L (50L expanded) | 39L (45L expanded) |
| Material | Makrolon® polycarbonate | Polypropylene |
| Interior | Recycled RPET | Recyclex® (recycled PET) |
| Opening | Top-opening | Traditional clamshell |
| Handle | Wide, 4-position telescopic | Standard, retractable |
| Lock | Integrated TSA | Integrated TSA |
| Warranty | Lifetime (functional components) | 10 years (manufacturing defects) |
The first thing I noticed is the weight, almost 1.5kg more on the Adventure, and that matters when you’re traveling carry-on only and some airlines now cap you at 8kg. In exchange, you get 5L more capacity and a shell material (polycarbonate) that generally holds up better to impact than polypropylene.
The more noticeable difference day to day is how each one opens: the Adventure from the top, the Restackd in a traditional clamshell. That changes how you get to your things in tight spaces, like a small hotel room or a train corridor.
Why the Adventure and Navigator combo works for me
These two pieces complement each other. The Adventure carries what needs to travel closed and protected, like clothes or anything more fragile. The Navigator holds what I need within reach: laptop, chargers, water, camera, and it also makes pulling out liquids at airport security that much easier.
Together, they cover what my trips actually need: the Adventure’s extra capacity for returning home, when I usually bring back more than I packed, and the Navigator’s separate shoe compartment, which kept dirty shoes away from the rest of my clothes, exactly like it did in Paredes de Coura.
FAQ
Does the Navigator count as a personal item or as carry-on baggage?+
At 32L and roughly 50cm x 31cm x 21cm, it sits right on the line between the two. It goes over the typical “personal item” limits on European low-cost carriers (Ryanair, EasyJet), but it usually clears carry-on allowances on traditional airlines without trouble. Always check your airline’s exact limits before you fly.
Does the Adventure fit as carry-on baggage on every airline?+
Its dimensions (roughly 54cm x 39cm x 26cm, wheels and handle included) fit within most European airlines’ allowances, but it’s always worth checking your airline’s exact limits before you fly.
How durable are these materials, really?+
Makrolon® is a German-made polycarbonate, the same type used in other premium luggage for its impact resistance. Not some generic plastic. The Adventure’s wheels, made from the same material, are rated for over 276,000 rotations without visible wear. On the Navigator, the exterior is reinforced in high-wear spots, and the recycled RPET interior doesn’t compromise the lining’s durability.
Thinking about buying?
I’ve partnered with Level8 to get you 15% off. Just use this link and enter the code marlene15 at checkout.
A few more things:
- Shipping • free to the US, Canada, and Europe
- Fast delivery • usually within 3-7 business days
- Customer support • responsive with any order issues
- Warranty • every suitcase bought on the official site comes with a lifetime warranty
Do you think this combo would work for your trips? Tell me in the comments what you usually pack when you’re not checking a bag.