Highlights
- Red Dot Design Award
- Made from Aerospace-grade aluminium magnesium alloy
- Zipperless
- 20” Carry on only
- Lifetime warranty
- £449.99 (includes 4-piece packing cube travel set, luggage tag and suitcase cover protector)
Verdict: The Level8 Gibraltar offers incredible value for money vs not only other aluminium carry-ons, but carry-ons in general. After my first holiday with it, it’s hard to find any faults. In 2019, the Gibraltar won a Red Dot award for design, calling it “Low weight, no-frills functionality and advantageous material properties” and I have to agree 100% with the statement.
https://uk.level8cases.com/products/new-level8-gibraltar-full-aluminum-carry-on-luggage-20
Who are Level8?
- Based in New York, Level8 have been making luggage since 2008
- They make a wide range of luggage to cover most budgets, starting around £150 to their most expensive at £1,100
- Level8 offer a lifetime warranty which covers functional aspects including shell, wheels, handles, and zippers (you won’t find many luggage companies offering lifetime warranty at the lower price range)
- Much of Level8’s range uses German-made Makrolon® polycarbonate hard shell material which is both enduring and light.
I’ll be reviewing the Gibraltar Aluminium Carry-On, one of the most popular luggage in Level8’s range. I took it as my carry-on for a ski trip to Austria to put it through its paces (along with some more testing at home).
What is aluminium luggage? Why should I consider buying?
Aluminium is one of the most robust suitcase materials on the market. It won’t crack like polypropylene (the material which most luggage on the market is made from) meaning an aluminium suitcase could last you decades of travel. Why aren’t all suitcases made from aluminium? Aluminium luggage tends to be more expensive and heavier than nylon or polypropylene.
Level8 Gibraltar Aluminium Carry-On review
Price
£450 for a carry-on may seem a little expensive, but compared to other aluminium carry-ons like the Away Aluminium (£500) and Rimowa Original (£1,000), the Level8 Gibraltar is one of the cheapest aluminium suitcases on the market. You’ll also receive (at the time of writing) a 4-piece packing cube travel set (worth £49.99), luggage tag (£29.99) and suitcase cover protector. For £450 and not forgetting a lifetime warranty, this is exceptionally good value for money.
Outside
Shell
The Gibraltar is made from Aerospace-grade aluminium magnesium alloy (which is often used for aircraft joints), features an aluminium frame to help keep its shape and has crash-proof metal corner guards. This combination ensures the suitcase is highly durable. To test this, I stood on the front of the suitcase with my full weight (10 stone) and impressively there was no impact.
This doesn’t mean it’s scratch resistant however. Having read other traveller’s experience with aluminium suitcases in general, I was most concerned about the shell looking like a cat’s play thing. From using it as a carry-on on one trip, several scratches have appeared (although you’d have to look closely to really see them). As you can see, the undercoat colour matches the overcoat, unlike some polypropylene suitcases. Are the scratches any more or more visible than a polypropylene suitcase? Probably not.
Colours
The Gibraltar is available in two colours, grey and silver. It’s possible the darker grey may hide the scratches better. Even still, I have no regrets choosing the silver. It looks eye catching and reminds me of the briefcases you see in movies (particularly with the double latches).
Locks/Latches
Elsewhere, there’s extra protection with two TSA approved “latch” locks (which allow TSA agents to open with a key and inspect your luggage with minimal fuss). If you need a reason to convince you to buy zipperless luggage, watch how easy it is to open a regular zippered suitcase with just a ballpoint pen. There’s also a rubber seal in between the two lids which did a great job keeping water out when tested as you can see from the image below.
Wheels
The wheels have a wear-resistant rubber coating and are double bearing which eliminates vibration and ensures quiet rotation. The handle can be set at four heights which means it’s comfortable to wheel across a range of heights. I found it a breeze to roll along whether on two or four wheels and even on mixed terrain. I had to wheel it along this extremely steep hill to the hotel on snow, ice and tarmac. The rubber coating also did a great job in protecting the wheels on the harsher surfaces.
Weight
Weighing in at 4.5kg, it is around 1kg more than other carry-on suitcases made from other popular materials such as nylon, polypropylene and polycarbonate. However, compared to other aluminium carry-ons it’s fairly standard. Still, the extra weight is something to consider whether it’s worth the trade off for your situation as you may go over your airline’s weight limit when checking in.
The two handles have a rubber coating and are soft closing, a small detail but gives a premium feel nonetheless.
Inside
Size
Its 20-inch size (55.8 x 38.1 x 21.3cm) and 36L capacity is fairly standard for carry-on suitcases and fits most aircraft overhead compartments. It just about fit in the overhead compartment on my British Airways flight, although the flight attendant had to close the door with a little bit force which made me wince, but inspecting afterwards there was no damage present to the corners, showing their protective attributes.
Dividers
Inside, there are two dividers which are flexible and use a clip method to stay in place, so you’re not limited by regular zippers (which can break easily if you overpack). The tension is tight and did a terrific job of keeping my items moving and sliding inside the suitcase. The dividers are removable while one side features a zippered pocket (useful for flatter objects like charging cables).
Capacity
As a test, I tried to pack as much as possible and found I comfortably packed for a 4 night stay (4 t-shirts, 4 jeans, 4 jumpers, socks, underwear and toiletry bag). I even tried to push the suitcase to it’s limits by packing more. I felt a little nervous overpacking and wondered whether the rigidity of the hinges would give way, but the suitcase still closed without breaking which is impressive.
Packing cubes review
If you’re not familiar with this rising travel accessory trend, packing cubes are a set of small bags to organise and “compress” your clothes so you can pack more.
I often wondered what are the benefits of using packing cubes as there are better ways to compress your clothes like vacuum bags for travelling. However, after using them on my holiday they will be joining my essential travel accessories list. The organisational aspect is actually a lot more helpful than I thought and I like the idea of being able to store my dirty clothes in a packing cube and then washing it at home, keeping the inside of my suitcase clean (let’s be honest how often do you clean the inside of your suitcase).
The four packing cubes are fairly standard compared to other on the market, except the unique feature of replaceable velcro symbols so you can organise your belongings more efficiently. The removable velcro dividers in one packing cube is extremely useful for my toiletries I found. Still, it’s nice to have as a free gift to complement the suitcase.
Closing thoughts
As a carry-on the Level8 Gibraltar seems flawless to me. If I have to check it in, I’ll update this review to show how it delt with rougher handling. And time will tell how well the coating on the front will hold up.
There is also a pro version of the Gibraltar which features a new design, wide handle and a flat/grooved top to balance your laptop/tablet on.
https://uk.level8cases.com/products/new-level8-gibraltar-full-aluminum-carry-on-luggage-20
