Level8 Freeloop: The Best Stylish Carry-On Luggage

Last updated on April 22, 2026

Looking for stylish carry-on luggage? The Level 8 Freeloop retro suitcase perfectly blends aesthetics with function. In this post, I’m sharing all the details on the suitcase—plus my honest review.

Suitcases have always been designed for durability, functionality, and practicality—but why shouldn’t they be stylish too? Luckily, we live in a time where aesthetics and function go hand in hand, with plenty of stylish carry-on luggage options that look as good as they perform.

I was looking for a new carry-on suitcase and wanted something with a vintage vibe. Retro is making a huge comeback right now, and I’ll admit—I’m a sucker for that old-school aesthetic.

So, I was beyond excited when I found the Level8 Freeloop carry-on suitcase. Its retro design with rounded edges, aluminum fishing, perfect pastel sage green color, and old-school handles was exactly what I wanted from my stylish carry-on luggage. Today, I’m sharing what I love (and don’t love) about this suitcase, and why it’s quickly become my new favorite!

Level8 compensated me for my honest review of this stylish carry-on luggage, but all opinions are my own. I’ve tried aesthetic suitcases from several companies over the years, and I truly love this carry-on. Additionally, I want to disclose that if you purchase the products mentioned in this post, we receive a small commission at no extra cost. You can see our full advertising disclosure here.

🛄 When you’re ready to buy, use code EatSeeRV10 at check-out to get 10% off your order.

About Level8

Level8 is a luggage company based in New York City known for making aesthetic, high-quality, long-lasting suitcases. Functionality is their guiding principal, but they also focus heavily on design having won several international awards from Red Dot, iF, and IDEA.

Today’s post is focused on reviewing their stylish carry-on luggage, the Freeloop. This is my second suitcase from Level8—and while I personally prefer the Freeloop, both are fantastic suitcases. If this doesn’t seem to be the right suitcase for you, feel free to explore their other luggage, which come in soft shell, hard shell, aluminum, and checked bag sizes with zip or no-zip options.

Quick Take on this Stylish Carry-On Luggage

Why I Love It: The suitcase has a beautiful retro feel, is well-constructed, spacious, and comes with smooth-rolling 360° wheels.

What to Consider: The exterior does scuff easily, so I recommend using the protective cover during airline transit. It doesn’t have waterproof compartments like other Level8 suitcases and uses latches to open, which may not appeal to everyone. Also, Level8 only offers a limited 7-day return policy.

Value for quality: The suitcase is well-priced compared to competitors of similar quality.

Key Features of the Freeloop Carry-On

Let’s talk about some of the key features of this stylish carry-on luggage. The 20-inch Freeloop carry-on comes in three colors. I have the sage green which has a muted pastel look to it—which I think adds to the retro feel. It also comes in a dark green, which I feel is more of a hunter green with a tinge of deep blue. It also comes in coconut white, which is an off-white color with a soft pink undertone.

The suitcase has a glossy finish to its exterior, which I really love. Matte finishes were really in for stylish carry-on luggage previously, but I think this glossy finish makes it feel more retro and compliments the color combinations.

Everything about the bag is different. Instead of having a zipper close, it uses a twist lock feature to release the two latches. At first, I worried that if I overstuffed my suitcase I would struggle closing the bag, but that’s not the case. The latches are super easy to lock and again, play into the vintage vibe. Honestly, I think the handle and latches are what elevate this stylish carry-on luggage.

The Freeloop has a TSA lock built in keeping the latches secure from opening on a whim and allowing officers to inspect your bag without breaking anything.

The Freeloop came with a free leather luggage tag and a clear plastic suitcase cover protector. The cover protector is really nice because the bag is prone to scratching if you have to check the carry-on last minute.

The suitcase has a leather handle that feels great to the touch. There’s a handle on the side (near the latches) and the top of the suitcase for easy grabbing. It also has a retractable arm, which works with my stacking tote bag from a different suitcase set (win).

The corners are protected with metal corner guards, in a complimentary sage color. The inside of the bag is made with a super sturdy aluminum interior frame. The bag feels rigid and durable yet lightweight because the exterior is an impact-resistant polycarbonate case.

Size

The corners are designed with engineer-based curves to maximize space. I wouldn’t say it’s as spacious as the Voyageur Level8 carry-on, but it had a lot of interior space for packing. The one thing I instantly noticed about the interior is the latching system.

The zipperless theme continues inside the bag having two hooks to latch your mesh divider. The other divider was secured with a Y-strap system. I liked that the Y-strap system allowed me to take out the divider completely if necessary and compressed my clothing on that side really nicely.

The Voyageur Level8 carry-on we also received from Level8 has a waterproof zipper compartment where the mesh divider is located in the Freeloop. I would have loved to see this feature carried over here because it is super practical, but I like the simplicity of the interior storage for this stylish carry-on luggage.

I love that this big has a simple clean aesthetic to it with minimal storage on the outside, but if you want exterior storage I recommend exploring some of Level8’s other bags like the Road Runner suitcase.

The Freeloop Carry-On is 22.1in tall x 15.2in wide x 9in deep (56cm x 38.5cm x 23cm) and weighs 8 lbs without anything in it. The Freeloop passes most carry-on size requirements. However, you should always confirm the specific airline’s sizing requirements from a bag requirement chart.

This is slightly smaller than the Voyaguer carry-on but still may have issues with certain airlines, particularly European or budget airlines.

For example, Qatar Air only allows carry-on luggage with the following measurements, 20in x 15in x 10in. The Level8 Freeloop carry-on is 2 inches taller. This may go unnoticed at the airport if they aren’t paying close attention, but if they check the size of your bag, you could be stuck with extra fees for checking it.

Movability

The handlebars are the standard luggage width with a cushioned leather grip handle. It feels really good in your hand and can adjust to four different heights making it comfortable to push or pull regardless of your height.

We noticed how smooth the 360° silent wheels are with the Voyaguer suitcase. The Freeloop stylish carry-on luggage also benefits from the same, steel dual-bearing wheels. They are super quiet, move easily even on rougher terrain, and do well on two wheels or four.

However, four-wheel suitcases like the Freeloop do have difficulty moving on rough ground. I’ve found it’s easier to pull in these scenarios when I use the suitcase on two wheels. But, that’s a problem I’ve noticed with all four-wheeled suitcases, not just Level8’s Freeloop.

Durability

I was sad I didn’t use the plastic cover protector on my last trip. It’s literally cut to the Freeloop’s exact dimensions, but I figured it’s a carry-on, how dirty should it get? Sadly, I was required to check my bag during boarding because of a lack of space on the plane. When I received it after checking, it had several buff marks and scratches.

Even though it’s a Makrolon® polycarbonate exterior it will show wear and tear over time. I don’t think that’s necessarily a ding against their bags though. The other luggage I’ve had also had scruffs and marks after use.

Returns and Warranties for Level8

I can’t personally speak to their return or warranty policy because I haven’t needed to use either. However, they accept returns on all products if it’s unused and in the same packaging 7 days after delivery. This is a narrow window. If you want to see it in person to decide if it’s right for you, make sure to stay on top of the return policy.

Their warranty covers manufacturers’ defects or issues that arise from poor craftsmanship and assembly. It does not cover damage caused by misuse. If you overstuff your bag and the latches breaks, they won’t cover it. If it comes back on the conveyor belt with a broken handle because the loader was a bit too rough on it, you’re out of luck.

However, if there is functional damage to the shell, wheels, handles, latches, Y-strap, mesh dividers, or anything else that impairs your use of the luggage that you did not directly cause, it’s covered with a 1-year warranty.

Pros of Level8 Freeloop Luggage

• stylish carry-on luggage with retro feel.
• Zipperless open with cute vintage latches.
• The outer shell is waterproof and durable.
• Spacious interior with organizing compartments.
• Leather grip for improved feel as you are pushing or pulling.
• TSA lock.
• Super quiet high-quality wheels that roll great on two or four wheels.

Cons of Level8 Freeloop Luggage

• It doesn’t fit some of the restrictive carry-on baggage sizes for European and budget airlines.
• No outside compartments.
• No charging capabilities or laptop storage.
• Will likely get scruffs or scratches with use.
• Short 7-day return policy.
• 1-year limited warranty.

Is This Stylish Travel Suitcase Worth the Cost?

I truly love my Freeloop carry-on luggage. I got so many compliments on it from TSA workers and even a few people at the airport as I was leaving. I love its retro style, quality materials, and movability. Given the pros (which to me outweigh the cons), I think it’s a well-valued purchase for a stylish carry-on luggage.

Its pricing is on par with other stylish travel suitcases and in several cases, cheaper without compromising functionality or durability. With that being said, it’s not the right fit for everyone.

If you travel on budget airlines often where this bag would exceed the size limit, consider a different carry-on suitcase. Additionally, if you need an exterior compartment for your suitcase go with a different bag. However, if you’re looking for a lightweight, retro suitcase built to last at a fair price then the Level8 Freeloop carry is a great choice.

🛄 When you’re ready to buy, use code EatSeeRV10 at check-out to get 10% off your order.