Best checked suitcase for long haul travel? I tested the LEVEL8 Voyageur across Asia.
There it is — one of the first off the carousel, and instantly recognisable.
Long haul travel always sounds great when you’re booking it, but in reality, it’s often your luggage that makes or breaks the trip. I’ve had times dragging heavy cases through airports, dealing with awkward wheels, or trying to squeeze everything in last minute.
That’s why I’ve usually defaulted to backpacking. It’s easier to move around, especially in places like Southeast Asia. But the downside is space.
Once you’re travelling longer, bringing gifts, or just want more flexibility, a backpack quickly becomes limiting, and that’s where a checked suitcase becomes necessary…
If you can find one that actually makes travel easier.
So for my latest trip from the UK to Indonesia, with stops in Bangkok, Jakarta and Bandung, I set out to test what I’d consider the best checked suitcase for long haul travel.
That’s where the LEVEL8 Voyageur comes in, and in this review, I’ll break down exactly how it performed.
In Newcastle airport with beautiful Level8 Voyageur Checked.
Disclosure: I sometimes use affiliate marketing. This will not cost you anything, but helps with my travel costs. I only recommend companies I use myself.
Note: This post was sponsored by Level8, but all thoughts and opinions are my own.
Quick Verdict - Is the LEVEL8 Voyageur worth it?
✔ Best for: long haul travel, 1–2 week trips, and anyone who wants a suitcase that actually makes packing easier.
✔ Standout features: a completely flat interior (no wasted space) and ultra-smooth wheels that glide through busy airports.
✔ What surprised me most: how easy it was to manoeuvre, even when fully packed and moving through crowded terminals. It felt very lightweight.
✔ Verdict: After testing it across Bangkok, Jakarta and Bandung on my last trip, this is genuinely one of the easiest and most practical suitcases I’ve travelled with, and it is definitely the most aesthetically pleasing.
👉 If you’re looking for a suitcase that feels premium, packs efficiently, and is incredible easy on the eye then it ticks every. box.
👉 Check latest price on LEVEL8 here.
You can save 15% with the code ‘TOMHENTY15’.
Testing this suitcase across Asia (My personal experience).
Having travelled through Asia several times, I’ve done my fair share of backpacking — and minimalist backpacking at that. I’m used to squeezing everything into a carry-on, packing light, and just making it work.
But this trip was different…
I was travelling with my girlfriend, who lives in Bandung in Indonesia, and that completely changed how I needed to pack.
This wasn’t a quick, lightweight trip anymore, it was a proper long-haul journey where I needed to bring more than just the basics
Alongside my own clothes and travel gear, I was also packing the usual UK essentials I bring over, snacks, gifts, and a few things you just can’t easily get in Indonesia. Anyone who’s travelled to visit a partner abroad will know how quickly that adds up.
On top of that, we also had a mini trip planned to Bangkok, which meant packing for multiple destinations in one go. Different climates, different outfits, and a bit more flexibility needed in what I brought.
Clothes and Uk essentials packed.
Instead of defaulting back to a backpack, I wanted to properly test a checked suitcase that could handle all of that without making travel harder.
That’s where the LEVEL8 Voyageur came in, and over the course of this trip, I put it through everything from long-haul flights to crowded airports, high-speed trains, and hotel check-ins across Bangkok, Jakarta and Bandung.
Navigating Bandung Train Station.
Long Haul Flights (UK → Asia).
Having done a fair few long haul flights over to many Southeast Asia destinations over the years, whether that’s trips around Bali, travelling through Thailand, or exploring different parts of the region, I’ve experienced both ends of the spectrum when it comes to luggage.
From squeezing everything into a backpack to dealing with bulky suitcases that are more hassle than they’re worth, it’s always been a bit of a trade-off.
This time felt different from the start.
Checking in the LEVEL8 Voyageur was straightforward, and one of the first things I noticed when it came off the carousel at the other end, was how easy it was to spot.
It sounds simple, but after a long flight, not having to second guess which suitcase is yours is a small win that makes a difference.
The start of a very long day of travelling.
From there, it was straight into the usual airport routine, navigating arrivals, moving through crowds, and getting out to transport.
This is where I usually start to feel the frustration with larger suitcases, especially after a long flight when you’re already tired, with the locals trying to get my attention (I try not to think of the start of my Egypt trip too often).
But the smooth wheels and overall balance of the case made it noticeably easier to move through the airport without that usual dragging or resistance.
So easy to spot!
Whoosh Train in Indonesia (Jakarta ↔ Bandung).
One of the more unique parts of this trip was taking the Whoosh high-speed train between Jakarta and Bandung, and back again.It was actually my first time on an actual bullet train, and I didn’t quite realise just how fast these things are until we were moving.
It’s a pretty surreal experience watching everything blur past, especially compared to the slower trains I’ve been on in other parts of Southeast Asia.
But it certainly added a different dimension to a more typical travel day.
On our way, we had to deal with stations, raised platforms, security checks, and getting everything on and off the train quickly.
Very lightweight to move.
The Level8 Voyageur certainly passed this test, as we moved up and down steps, navigated busy platforms, and tried to get on and off the train.
One thing which stood out was how light and easy it feels to move, even when fully packed. Despite weighing around 25kg, it still glided smoothly across the ground, which made a noticeable difference as we moved.
It also fitted seamlessly into the storage section on the bullet train.
A perfect fit on Whoosh.
Bangkok airports & transfers.
If there’s one place that really tests your luggage, it’s Bangkok.
Between busy airports, long walkways, and the constant movement in and out of transport, it’s not exactly a relaxed environment, especially after an international flight.
Arriving into Don Mueang International Airport from Indonesia, we were immediately faced with crowds, queues, and a fair bit of walking just to get through arrivals.
This is usually where you need your suitcase to do its job, and it did. Gliding through as I took selfies with my girlfriend, and we observed our new surroundings in the land of smiles.
Taking a long walk through the airport.
Once we were into the city, things didn’t exactly slow down either. We had so many different plans on our Bangkok itinerary, but that was after we headed to our hotel on Sukhumvit Road.
Whether we were navigating taxi ranks, jumping into Grab cars, or getting dropped off in busy areas, the suitcase felt controlled and easy to handle.
In a city like Bangkok, where everything moves quickly and there’s always something going on around you, having luggage that just worked made our whole experience noticeably smoother.
On it’s way to Thailand.
Hotel check-ins & city movement.
Another part of the trip where the suitcase really stood out was during hotel check-ins and moving around the city day to day.
After long travel days, arriving at a nice hotel and walking through a clean, modern lobby is always a bit of a reset, and it’s one of those moments where I know my luggage is very much on show.
The LEVEL8 Voyageur definitely fits that environment.
It has a clean, minimalist design that feels premium, minimalist, along with being very aesthetic - and it blended in perfectly with the more modern hotel interiors we stayed in across Bangkok, Jakarta and Bandung.
It didn’t feel like I was dragging in a bulky, out-of-place suitcase, it actually looked the part.
Blending in seamlessly in the modern hotels.
Getting between places was just as important.
As we moved between different parts of the city, the suitcase fit easily into car boots without any awkward manoeuvring or reshuffling things around.
I usually opt for backpacking to make this part of travelling easier, but this case was very practical for us.
It’s a small detail, but it all adds to the overall experience.
There’s a reason LEVEL8 is a globally trusted brand, loved by tens of thousands of travellers worldwide, as it strikes a really good balance between style, practicality, and it definitely made our travel feel just that bit smoother.
Moving through some mega cities.
First impressions & build quality.
The first time I properly looked at the suitcase was when I unpacked it before the trip, and straight away, it felt like a step up from what I’d used before.
Although it felt smaller than some of the other suitcases I have used, it still held as much luggage. Its world class ergonomics means that it can deceive at first glance.
As I started to unbox the case, it immediately looked like a higher-end piece of luggage, feeling clean, modern, and very premium.
It has arrived!
Picking it up, it also felt solid without being overly heavy. The outer shell has that rigid, durable feel you want from a checked suitcase, but still with a bit of flexibility to handle the usual knocks that come with long haul travel.
I knew that I didn’t need to worry about it once it was out of my hands at check-in.
Opening it up is where it started to stand out more.
Everything inside feels well thought through, from the layout to how easy it is to organise your things. It’s clear this isn’t just designed to look good, but to actually make packing and travelling easier.
This held up as I travelled from Newcastle, across two countries and Asia, and back again!
Nice and protected.
First glance at the beautiful design.
What makes this suitcase different?
After using the LEVEL8 Voyageur across airports, trains, and cities, I was impressed with how it actually performed in my day-to-day travels.
Most suitcases I’ve used in the past do the job, but they usually come with small trade-offs. Some don’t move as smoothly when fully packed, others waste space inside, and a few just feel awkward to handle once you’re constantly on the move.
This one felt well rounded, and I can have no complaints about its practicalities and sturdiness.
The Voyageur doesn’t completely reinvent everything, but it does refine a lot of those details in a way that makes it a very nice suitcase to use.
For me, the biggest changes were the wide handle design and the flatter interior layout.
They’re not things you necessarily think about when buying a suitcase, but in practice, they do make packing more straightforward and the case easier to control when it’s fully loaded.
Overall, it feels like a well thought-through piece of luggage rather than something overly complicated, just small improvements that make travelling a bit easier, especially on longer trips.
A beautiufl suitcase.
Wide handle = better control.
Picture this, you are gliding through Don Mueng airport in Bangkok, and don’t even realise you are pushing 25kg of luggage in front of you.
One of the key design differences with the LEVEL8 Voyageur is the wide handle. Instead of a single bar down the middle, it’s positioned closer to the edges of the suitcase.
It feels more stable and easier to control, especially when changing direction or navigating through crowds.
I noticed this most in Bangkok airports and Indonesian train stations, where we had to traverse some considerable distance to use the transport.
It’s not a drastic change, but it’s one of those small improvements that makes handling a full suitcase feel smoother and more controlled over time.
Using a wide handle is ideal.
Flat Interior = More packing space.
The other feature that stood out pretty quickly was the flat interior design.
Most suitcases I’ve used have raised sections inside where the handle bars sit, which ends up wasting space or making it harder to pack neatly.
With the LEVEL8 Voyageur, the inside is completely flat, which makes a noticeable difference when you’re trying to organise everything.
For this trip, I ended up splitting the case into two sides, one for my clothes, and the other for gifts and UK essentials I was bringing over for my girlfriend in Indonesia. Normally that kind of packing gets messy quite quickly, but having a flat base made it much easier to keep things organised and stacked properly.
It doesn’t sound like a big feature, but it really did help with my organisation. It isn’t easy to pack for two weeks in Asia, especially with a girlfriend who loves UK snacks.
Clothes on side, UK essentials in the other.
Smooth spinner wheels.
I’m so used to travelling with a heavy backpack that I didn’t really think much about the wheels beforehand, it’s never been something I’ve relied on.
But once I started moving through the busy airports, it was very noticeable.
Covering long distances and weaving through crowds felt surprisingly easy. It tracked well, didn’t drift off, and didn’t need much correcting as I walked.
You still feel it slightly more on rougher surfaces, but on most floors, airports, stations, hotel lobbies, it just moves smoothly and you can barely notice that you are pushing it.
The wheels feel smooth even on rougher surfaces.
Security & Features.
When it comes to features, it covers everything you’d expect from a solid checked suitcase without overcomplicating things.
It comes with a TSA-approved lock, which is always good to have for long haul travel, especially when your bag is going through multiple airports.
It’s simple to set up and gives that bit of extra peace of mind when you’re checking it in. It only took me a minute to read the instructions and then set my personal code.
Inside, the layout is clean and easy to work with. There are enough compartments and dividers to keep things organised, which is a good feature of its product design.
The TSA approved lock is easy to set up.
How much can you actually pack?
This was probably the biggest test for me going into this trip, especially knowing I wasn’t just packing for myself.
With the flat interior, it was much easier to organise everything properly rather than just cramming things in.
As mentioned above, I ended up splitting the suitcase into two sides: one for my clothes, and the other for gifts and UK essentials I was bringing over for my girlfriend.
On the clothing side, I was able to fit enough for a 1–2 week trip without needing to overthink it, a mix of t-shirts, shorts, a couple of smarter outfits, and extra bits for different situations, including our few days in Bangkok.
On the other side, I had snacks, presents, and a few bulkier items like easter eggs, which would normally make packing feel messy or uneven. But because the base is completely flat, everything stacked neatly and stayed in place.
The Voyageur passed the ‘space test’ with flying colours!
A very spacious case.
Pros & Cons of using Level8 Voyageur.
After using it across flights, trains, and moving around cities, here’s how it realistically stacks up:
✅ Pros.
Easy to recognise on the carousel.
It might sound simple, but after a long haul flight, being able to spot your suitcase quickly is a big win. The design and colour made it stand out straight away, which saved time and hassle at baggage claim.
Huge packing space.
The flat interior makes a noticeable difference when you’re trying to fit more in, especially for longer trips or carrying extra items. On this trip, I managed to split one side for clothes and the other for gifts and UK essentials, and it still didn’t feel cramped.
Smooth movement.
Easy to roll through airports, stations, and hotel spaces without much effort. In the megacities of Asia, where you’re constantly on the move, it just glided alongside me rather than feeling like something I had to drag.
Premium feel & modern design.
Clean, minimal design that looks good. It fit in naturally in hotel lobbies and didn’t feel out of place, even in more modern or higher-end settings. It’s easy to see why it’s picked up design recognition like the Red Dot award — it has that balance of simplicity and functionality that just works.
Easy to control.
The wide handle and overall balance make it feel more stable when moving around, particularly when fully packed.
So easy to spot.
No product is perfect, but I only found there to be one or two drawbacks to the Voyageur.
❌ Cons.
More expensive than budget options.
It’s definitely not the cheapest suitcase out there, especially if you’re used to more basic luggage. That said, the quality does reflect the cost in my opinion.
Minimal external pockets.
There isn’t much in terms of quick-access storage on the outside, so everything needs to go inside the case.
It wasn’t a big issue for me, but if you’re used to having easy access to things like documents or small items, it’s something to be aware of.
Yellow colour shows wear.
The yellow colour looks great and is easy to spot on the carousel, but it does pick up visible scuffs and marks quite quickly, especially after flights and baggage handling.
After my first trip, there were a few noticeable marks on the surface, however, they wiped off fairly easily.
That said, most of them wiped off pretty easily, and none of it affected how the suitcase performed. It’s more of a visual thing than anything else, but worth knowing if you want it to stay looking completely fresh.
👉 There some awesome other colours - Check them out.
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The yellow colour does show the marks and wear and tear.
Who this suitcase is best for.
After using it across this trip, I’d say the LEVEL8 Voyageur is best suited for travellers who value both space and ease of movement.
If you’re doing long haul trips, especially 1–2 weeks or more, it makes a lot of sense. The extra packing space and more organised interior really help when you’re carrying more than just the basics — whether that’s different outfits, gifts, or just having a bit more flexibility.
It’s also a good option if you’re moving between multiple destinations. On this trip, going between Jakarta, Bandung and Bangkok, it handled that constant movement well without becoming a hassle to deal with.
I’d also say it suits travellers who care about how their luggage looks, without wanting something overly flashy. It has that clean, modern design that fits in anywhere, from airports to hotel lobbies.
If you’re someone who prefers travelling light with just a backpack, it might feel like more than you need. But if you’re already using checked luggage — or looking to upgrade, this feels like a solid step up.
A very aesthetic look.
Is LEVEL8 a Good Luggage Brand?
From my experience, it’s an easy yes.
Both from using the suitcase itself and working with the brand, everything has felt professional, well thought through, and reliable.
The product reflects that too, it’s clearly designed with real travel in mind, not just aesthetics.
It’s also worth noting that LEVEL8 is a globally trusted brand, with award-winning designs and a strong focus on quality and user experience. That comes across not just in how the suitcase looks, but how it performs over a full trip.
Overall, it feels like a brand that’s focused on making travel easier and more efficient, and based on this experience, it definitely delivers on that.
Final Verdict: Is the LEVEL8 Voyageur worth It?
After using it across long haul flights, train travel, and moving between cities, I’d confidently say this is one of the most practical suitcases I’ve travelled with.
It’s not perfect, and it’s priced above budget options, but the combination of packing space, control, and overall ease of use makes a noticeable difference, especially on longer trips.
If you’re travelling long haul, packing for more than just yourself, or simply want a suitcase that feels easier to travel with, this is one I’d genuinely recommend.
Disclosure: I sometimes use affiliate marketing. This will not cost you anything, but helps with my travel costs. I only recommend companies I use myself.