Jules Renner
Flies somewhere around eighty times a year for work. Keeps bags for years and comes back to update posts when a wheel starts dragging or a zipper gives out.
8 notes on Curated Roam
- Level8 vs Delsey: Checked: Picks That Actually Hold Up 2026-08-03
Delsey wins for casual travelers who check bags fewer than ten times a year, since its price and wide parts availability offset the shell cracking and scratching reviewers report. Level8 costs less upfront, roughly $140 to $180, but its zippers fail more often, including a reported failure after about a year. Frequent flyers past thirty trips should skip both and buy a Travelpro instead. - Buying Used Luggage 2026-07-25
Buying used luggage pays off if you test the bag in person rather than trusting photos or the seller's word. Run every zipper full-length on a stuffed bag, spin the wheels for wobble or flat spots, extend the handle at an angle, measure it yourself against airline limits, and smell every pocket for mildew, which signals structural water damage, not just cosmetic wear. - Road Trip Trunk Packing 2026-06-30
For road trip trunk packing, use soft-sided duffels, not hard-shell cases: they squish into gaps around coolers and folding chairs, while hard cases just waste space. Put the heavy bag on the bottom, ideally over the axle. Pack the cooler first, since it goes in last near the opening and gets accessed constantly. - Level8 vs Travelpro: Carry-On: Picks That Actually Hold Up 2026-06-06
Level8, specifically the Grace Carry-On, wins on value against the Travelpro Platinum Elite 21", running roughly $140 to $160 versus a price flight crews accept as a tool purchase, while matching it on wheel quality and adding front-pocket laptop organization. The zipper pull loop snaps off for multiple owners, so check that and confirm your model's dimensions against airline carry-on limits before buying. - Europe Packing List 2026-05-23
The Level8 Grace works as a carry-on for most Europe trips if you pack layers instead of volume and stick to about 22 x 14 x 9 inches, since budget carriers gate-check strictly. Its zipper pull is the known weak point, often failing around the three-month mark or trip forty, so budget for a possible early replacement rather than assuming a defective unit. - Tsa 3-1-1 Toiletries: The Minimalist Version 2026-05-23
The minimalist 3-1-1 kit works best with three twist-cap 3oz bottles (shampoo, face wash, one catch-all) plus a solid shampoo bar and solid deodorant, since bars don't count toward the quart bag at all. Skip refillable pump bottles, since they leak under cabin pressure. Any clear zip-top bag under a quart works; it doesn't need to be an actual Ziploc. - Ski Trip Packing List 2026-05-20
For a ski trip, check skis and boots (usually around $40 to $50 each way depending on the carrier) and carry on goggles, electronics, one base layer set, and gloves so you can still function on the mountain if the checked bag disappears. Use a boot bag with a vented bottom compartment, pack two pairs of gloves, and skip cotton socks. - Best Carry-On Luggage for People Who Fly Every Week 2026-05-01
The Level8 Carry-On is the pick for weekly flyers who don't want to spend Travelpro money, priced around $140 against ~$300+ for the Travelpro. Its front laptop compartment holds a 16-inch MacBook Pro and iPad separately, speeding up security lines. Check its roughly 22 x 14.5 x 10 size against strict airlines like Delta, American, or United before buying.
How I work
- This is a one-person site. I write in the first person, about bags I bought with my own money and actually used.
- There is no scoring system, no editorial team and no "we tested". When I have only used something twice, I say so.
Full method: About these notes. Corrections and questions: jules@curatedroam.com.