LEVEL8 Road Runner Pro Review

1. Introduction

If you’ve ever had an airline lose a piece of checked luggage, you know that it can absolutely ruin a trip. For digital nomads, the experience is exponentially worse, as we normally have more than just holiday paraphernalia, but essential items for everyday life and work as well.

More than 10 million bags were either delayed, lost or stolen last year, and while that equates to just a small fraction of people, it’s still a large enough number to give us pause.

One way to skirt the issue entirely is to invest in a high-quality carry-on. This not only means you don’t have to worry about what’s going on behind the scenes with your checked luggage, it also means you can skip through arrivals faster, have greater mobility, and save money on airplane fees.

Founded in 2008, LEVEL8 specializes in hardshell luggage. Its range includes 11 different carry-on models, so there’s plenty of choice! We opted to test out the Road Runner Pro, which is on the more affordable end of the LEVEL8 spectrum.

2. Size, Capacity & First Impressions

The word that first came to mind when we unboxed our Road Runner Pro is demure. It only comes in black, stone, or charcoal – all colors that are basically the opposite of flashy. The only thing that really stands out at first glance is the LEVEL8 logo, which really pops, especially if you go for the standard black shell like we did.

Its total capacity is 35l, which is less than the equivalent carry-ons we tested from brands like Away and July. The flipside of that is the dimensions of the bag make it suitable for almost all international airlines.

At 21.5” H x 14.4” L x 9.2” W (55cm x 37cm x 23.5cm), it’s fine for everyone from United and Delta to Air France and Lufthansa.

Empty, it weighs about 9.3lbs (4.2kg), which is in line with what we’d expect from a polycarbonate hardshell carry-on. The shell itself has a nice, sleek feel, while the fabric on the interior looks smart and has reassuringly robust padding for digital devices.

3. Features & Functionality

When it comes to investing in a high-quality piece of luggage, we have several criteria that we look at before making a purchase.

Storage & Interior Design:

The first thing that caught our eye was the front compartment, which opens (with a very satisfying pop) when you push a button on the top of the suitcase. This button is connected to the locking mechanism, so that you can feel safe in the knowledge that your device is secure.

Inside the compartment is one large pocket, fronted by two smaller pockets. The larger one is designed to fit a laptop or tablet no bigger than 15.6” (40cm) and has a Velcro strap to secure your device in place, so it doesn’t come loose while you’re rolling the suitcase around the airport or storing it in the overhead locker.

The smaller pockets can accommodate a power bank, cables, or other small items.

Inside the main suitcase compartment, the right side has an open area with a compression strap.

The left side has a slightly smaller area fronted by a couple of slim, zippered compartments, one with a mesh front and the other with an opaque fabric. These are most useful for small items, since if you shove quite bulky stuff in there it will impact how much can fit in the space beneath.

Wheels & Handling:

LEVEL8’s luggage comes with 360-degree spinner wheels that are very easy to maneuver across different terrains. The wheels are described as “ultra-quiet,” though to be honest we didn’t find them any less (or more) noisy than other carry-ons we’ve tried.

We had no problems with the telescopic trolley handle, which has a decent four stops.

Security:

As you would expect with top-notch carry-ons, the Road Runner Pro has a TSA-approved lock. These hold in place the zippers (as with a lot of luggage brands, the zippers are made by YKK).

The shell is made from a durable polycarbonate called Makrolon, which is manufactured by the German company Covestro – in other words, it’s quality.

Tech & Smart Add-ons:

There’s a built-in USB port with a small plastic covering that sits on the top of the suitcase. Unlike some luggage, such as the July Carry-On Pro, the Road Runner Pro doesn’t come with a battery pack, but that wasn’t a big problem for us, since we were quite happy using the cable inside the front compartment to connect our own power bank.

Mobility & Ease of Use:

We found everything about the Road Runner Pro professionally designed – although nothing hugely stood out. The handles are comfortable, the bag has good balance whether you’re rolling it on two or four wheels, and it’s easy to lift when full.

4. Durability & Travel Performance

Hardshell suitcases are prone to scuffs, and the Road Runner Pro is no different. That said, we were able to buff out most of these marks with a damp cloth. After a couple of months of usage, we didn’t have any complaints.

If you do have issues, LEVEL8 provides a limited lifetime warranty for its luggage. This covers “functional damage” to the wheels, zippers, handles, and shell. There is a rather massive caveat, which is the warranty only covers manufacturing defects, rather than damage as the result of airline mishandling or an accident.

One issue we did have with the Road Runner Pro was with the capacity. The design gives the illusion that you’ve got loads of space, but we found that filling one compartment often impacted how much we could fit into other areas of the carry-on.

For example, we love the idea of that front compartment where you can store a laptop, but if you fill this space, it will eat into the amount you can fit inside the main area. The reverse is true if you cram stuff into the main compartment: less area for your laptop/tablet.

5. Pros and Cons

Pros:

• Conforms to most airline carry-on restrictions
• Robust polycarbonate exterior
• Smooth 360-degree spinner wheels

Cons:

• Relatively small capacity
• Limited color range

6. LEVEL8 Road Runner Pro vs July Carry-On Pro vs. Samsonite Outline Pro

LEVEL8 has the price advantage over flashier competitors like July. Its Road Runner Pro costs $219.99, compared to $325 for the Carry-On Pro. However, it’s not quite as cheap as some Samsonite models. The Samsonite Outline Pro, for example, has a price tag of just $199.99 – and when we got ours it was on offer for just $169.99.

Like July’s Carry-On Pro, the Road Runner Pro has a front compartment for a laptop or tablet. Where the Road Runner Pro has the advantage is that the compartment is secured using the TSA-approved lock, while the Carry-On Pro can be easily unzippered unless you add your own lock.

LEVEL8 has opted to offer a USB port, like the Samsonite Outline Pro. That’s not as handy as the July Carry-On Pro’s power bank, but we know that some people prefer to use their own battery charger.

Where the Road Runner Pro definitely loses out is its capacity, which is a mere 35l, compared to 42l for the July and 49l for the Samsonite. However, we should point out that the Samsonite is slightly oversized for most airline restrictions, while the LEVEL8 and the July aren’t going to cause any issues at the check-in desk.

7. Who It’s For (And Who It’s Not)

Perfect for: understated professionals, people who want easy access to their laptop

Not ideal for: colorful individuals, over-packers

We would say you can comfortably manage for 4 days with the Road Runner Pro, but a week is possible at a push. Any more than that and you’ll definitely need a laundry machine!

8. Final Verdict & Rating

So, would we recommend the LEVEL8 Road Runner Pro? If you’re looking for a more affordable, slightly less flashy version of chic luggage brands like July and Away, then yes. When it comes to core functionality, like the performance of the wheels and the telescopic handle, we would say that the Road Runner Pro is up to the standard.

Where it notable falls down is the capacity. You start with a more limited total interior volume than most competitors anyway, but the laptop compartment eats into that even more.

For a short trip, we can’t imagine that most digital nomads will have any issues, but for people who tend to pack more comprehensively, it might not be up to the mark.

Rating: 4/5

9. FAQ Section

Does the Road Runner Plus fit under airplane seats?

No. Like most hardshell carry-ons, the Road Runner Plus is designed for overhead lockers. Its dimensions are perfectly suited to almost all airline restrictions.

What’s the warranty policy?

LEVEL8 will repair or replace damage to the wheels, shell, and handles – all of these are covered by the limited lifetime warranty. It does not protect against mishandling by baggage staff, but since the Road Runner Pro is a carry-on, that shouldn’t be an issue.

Is the luggage waterproof?

The Road Runner Pro is not waterproof, but it is water resistant, and we can confirm that it does admirably under a light drizzle.