Level8 aluminium carry-on review: Best aluminium suitcase?

I am a big fan of aluminium suitcases. They aren’t cheap, nor are they particularly light, but they are super sleek and way more hardwearing than your average polycarbonate luggage.

You’d need to take out a small bank loan to buy most. Rimowa will set you back over £1,000, and brands like Monos and Samsonite are pushing close to £700.

So when I came across Level8 at around £460, I wanted to find out whether it could actually compete. Does the lower price tag lower the quality? Or is this, in fact, the best aluminium suitcase you can buy?

Spoiler: I am a big fan. And you can find out why by reading my full Level8 Aluminium Carry-On review.

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About Level8’s aluminium suitcase

Level8 is one of my favourite luggage brands, and they have been making suitcases since 2008. The Gibraltar is their flagship aluminium carry-on, and in both 2019 and 2022, it won a Red Dot Design Award. It’s designed as a premium alternative to brands like Rimowa and Monos, but at a significantly lower price point.

Here’s what you get:

• Aerospace-grade aluminium magnesium alloy shell
• Zipperless design with dual TSA combination locks
• Slow-release handles and a four-stage telescopic handle
• 360° spinner wheels
• 38L capacity at 4.5 kg
• Included packing cubes, luggage tag and suitcase cover
• Lifetime warranty

My experience with the aluminium carry-on

I have been taking Level8’s Gibraltar Aluminium Carry-On suitcase with me on all my recent travels – on car, plane, and train journeys. Here are my thoughts on the suitcase and how it held up.

How is the design?

The Level8 Gibraltar is a really good-looking suitcase. It’s sleek and looks high-end. The outer shell is clean and minimalist with no unnecessary branding or design details cluttering things up. It just looks like a well-made case, which is exactly what I want.

It comes in two colours, silver and a darker grey. I went for the grey, and I’m really glad I did. It’s a beautiful colour, and scuff marks show up on it a lot less than lighter silver colours do.

The dual TSA combination locks add to the security, and the handles are placed exactly where you need them, on the top and side, for easy lifting. They’re slow-release too, so they don’t snap back against the case when you let go.

Inside, there are two dividers keeping each side of the suitcase separate. One of them has a zip pocket which is handy for smaller loose items like chargers, adaptors or toiletries.

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How is it to use?

The telescopic handle has four height settings. I’ve used carry-ons before where the handle is either too short or too tall, and you end up walking awkwardly. But the tallest setting is just right for me.

The wheels are excellent. They glide smoothly across pretty much any surface. There’s no dragging or catching, unless you are in a particularly bumpy area (which would affect any suitcase).

Opening and closing the case is simple, too. The latch locks click open easily, and the whole thing opens out in a really satisfying way. There’s no fiddling around with zippers or worrying about them snagging on fabric!

My only gripe is that if you have smaller items loosely packed, the internal dividers won’t fully stop them from shifting or falling out when you open the case. It’s not too much of an issue though, because Level8 include a set of packing cubes with the suitcase, which keep all my things tidy.

How is the build quality?

The whole case is built from aerospace-grade aluminium magnesium alloy with crash-proof metal corner guards, so the areas most likely to take a hit are properly reinforced.

The case opens and closes with a zipperless aluminium frame and latch locks, which not only look cleaner but also means there’s one less thing that can break. I’ve had far too many zips break on my suitcases, always at the worst moment!

After several flights and more than a few rough baggage handlers, my case still opens and closes just as smoothly as the day I got it.

Level8 describe the shell as scratch-resistant, and that’s mostly true. It does pick up scuffs, but so far I’ve been able to wipe all of them off without any trouble. There is some minor wear and tear if you look up close, which is pretty much inevitable with aluminium, but it’s not something you’d notice at a glance.

Is it good value for money?

I’ll be honest, £459.99 for a carry-on suitcase is not particularly cheap. But when you’re looking at aluminium luggage specifically, it’s actually one of the most affordable options out there.

The Rimowa Original Cabin Carry-On will set you back £1070, the Samsonite Proxis Alu £630, and the Monos Aluminum Carry-On Plus comes in at £690. That’s up to £600+ more for a suitcase that looks and operates pretty like-for-like.

I actually prefer the look of the Level8 over the more expensive alternatives, too. It’s sleek and understated. Whereas the Samsonite and the Rimowa have grooves on the outside, which I think cheapen the look.

To add to the value, Level8 also include a set of four packing cubes, a luggage tag and a suitcase cover with the suitcase, all of which would normally cost you a lot extra. On top of that, you get a lifetime warranty covering the shell, wheels, handles and locks.

The build quality backs all of this up, too. It feels solid, the wheels glide across pretty much any surface, and everything from the locks to the telescopic handle works the way it should.

Review verdict: The best aluminium suitcase?

I genuinely love this suitcase. It’s lightweight, well-built, looks far more expensive than it is, and it comes with extras that most brands charge separately for. After several trips, it still opens smoothly, rolls beautifully and looks great.

Is it the best aluminium carry-on? For the price, I think it is. You can spend £200 more on a Monos or Samsonite and get a heavier case with a shorter warranty. The Level8 Gibraltar does everything I need it to, and it does it well.

If you’re after an aluminium carry-on that feels premium without the crazy price tag, this is the one I’d recommend!