Monos vs. Away Baggage: Which Ought to You Purchase in 2023?

So, you’ve determined to donate your previous, low cost, hand-me-down baggage and get your self a pleasant suitcase. Should you’re out there for contemporary, upscale baggage, odds are you’ve seen the names Monos and Away in your search. These two baggage manufacturers are direct opponents, and each specialise in smooth, high-quality hardside suitcases.

However which one is healthier?

As somebody who’s been touring for greater than a decade, I’ve had a number of hands-on expertise with each of those manufacturers. I’ve spent a number of years utilizing luggage from every model—everywhere in the world—and evaluating the nitty gritty particulars to study their strengths and weaknesses.

There are a number of similarities between Monos and Away. Each are startups based within the final ten years. Each provide trendy hardside instances with polycarbonate shells. Each have grown loyal buyer bases, particularly amongst youthful vacationers.

The winner on this detailed comparability of Monos vs. Away Baggage is be the model that provides the highest quality, useability, and worth. Under, I’ll dive into the main points and break down the place every model excels. In the end, I’ll present you precisely the place every model stands out in comparison with the opposite.

Don’t prefer to learn? Right here’s the spoiler: simply purchase Monos.

Monos Baggage Assessment

Monos is a Vancouver-based baggage model that was based in 2018. Their mission is to offer merchandise that enable you to focus much less in your stuff and extra on the (typically fleeting) experiences of journey. They imagine in making easy, timeless baggage that’s constructed to final relatively than stylish, cheaply-made merchandise that you simply’ll throw away in a 12 months.

I can get behind that concept.

There are two different issues that actually impress me about Monos.

First is their emphasis on high quality manufacturing and transparency about their course of. Each firm has some degree of high quality testing (at the very least they need to), however I’ve not often seen a model make that public the way in which Monos does. Their quality testing is in depth (some may say torturous), and provides me a number of confidence of their merchandise.

Second is their dedication to sustainability. Monos donates 1% of their income to climate-related non-profits. They’re additionally the primary baggage model to attain internet zero carbon emissions and change into Climate Neutral Certified.

For extra data, learn our full Monos luggage review.

Monos Baggage Supplies & High quality

As you’d anticipate from a model that’s devoted to constructing high-quality, sustainable merchandise, Monos baggage is admittedly well-built.

All of it begins with the sturdy polycarbonate shell. Polycarbonate is the gold customary materials for hardside luggage nowadays as a result of it’s light-weight, robust, and versatile sufficient to soak up impacts with out cracking.

Not all polycarbonate shells are created equal, although. The design and manufacturing course of additionally play an enormous roll within the sturdiness of onerous shell suitcases. Monos building is among the many finest. I’ve by no means seen a Monos shell crack, even with tough use. That’s higher than I can say for Away.

Monos additionally presents a hybrid suitcase assortment that mixes polycarbonate shells with an aluminum body and reinforcement within the corners and edges. As a substitute of zippers, the Monos Hybrid Luggage makes use of a hinge design with locking clasps. Truthfully, I don’t see a lot motive to purchase certainly one of their hybrid instances. They’re heavier, dearer, and tougher to make use of. The basic Monos suitcases are lots sturdy.

The standard and sturdiness goes past the shell, too. Each Monos suitcase makes use of robust YKK zippers (the most effective within the enterprise) and high-performance spinner wheels that Monos designed from the bottom as much as be the most effective available on the market. Positive sufficient, that is among the best spinner luggage I’ve ever used. It’s easy, maneuverable, and handles cobblestones with (relative) ease.

Monos rounds out their supplies with premium vegan leather-based particulars and a mushy stain-resistant lining that’s simple to maintain contemporary journey after journey.

Monos Baggage Design & Options

The general design of Monos suitcases could be very easy and streamlined. The exterior is easy and doesn’t have any pointless frills. The smooth, fashionable aesthetic simply seems actually good (I personally a lot choose Monos styling to Away).

Inside, you get loads of options for retaining the whole lot organized. On one aspect you get a big zippered divider with a built-in mesh pocket. On the opposite aspect there may be an inside compression system with a compression pad (detachable within the carry-on baggage and folding within the checked baggage). This compression pad goes excessive of your packed clothes, after which a pair of beefy compression straps cinch the whole lot down.

The straightforward design doesn’t imply you don’t get some additional perks although. Monos suitcases include an anti-microbial laundry bag, TSA-approved lock, two shoe luggage, and a vegan leather-based baggage tag.

Monos design and options are pretty constant throughout their whole vary of sizes. The checked Monos baggage has just a few extra pockets than the carry-on fashions, however that’s the principle distinction.

I really like the variety of decisions Monos offers you for a carry-on. You possibly can decide the usual Carry-On which is sized to suit worldwide measurement restrictions or the Carry-On Plus, which is an even bigger carry-on for home flights. In addition they provide the identical sizes with an exterior pocket with their Carry-On Pro and Carry-On Pro Plus (that final title’s a little bit of a mouthful, but it surely will get the purpose throughout).

The Monos Carry-On Professional is likely one of the best carry-on suitcases on the market. It has all the standard and options as the traditional Monos Carry-On, but it surely provides a zippered exterior zippered compartment. This pocket has a padded sleeve for a laptop computer and extra compartments inside for group. It additionally has a tough polycarbonate face to maintain all of your necessities protected. If you wish to purchase one Monos suitcase, that is the one to get.

Monos Baggage Execs and Cons

There’s loads to like about Monos. It’s sturdy, purposeful, and classy. General, Monos has a number of benefits over away by way of high quality and options, however there are some downsides, particularly you probably have particular wants like expandability or a small private merchandise suitcase.

Listed below are among the high professionals and cons of Monos in comparison with Away:

Away Baggage Assessment

Away might be essentially the most on-trend baggage model at this time. They began in 2015 and now have one thing of a cult following amongst Influencers and Millennial and Gen-Z vacationers.

Away baggage was began after certainly one of their founders, Jen Rubio, had her suitcase break up open within the airport, dumping all of her belongings throughout the ground. After that she wished to create fashionable baggage that was each trendy, and sturdy sufficient to depend on throughout journey.

Away builds some nice style-conscious and sturdy wheeled luggage. Many individuals have used their Away suitcases for years on finish with none important issues, and the web is filled with rave evaluations.

If you would like much more element, you’ll be able to learn our full Away Luggage Review.

Away Baggage Supplies & High quality

Similar to Monos, Away baggage begins with a sturdy polycarbonate shell. Away onerous shells aren’t as rounded as Monos, they usually have a rougher floor end. I personally like this rougher end as a result of it hides scratches higher, but it surely additionally isn’t as smooth wanting as Monos.

One thing in regards to the design of the Away onerous shell can be simply much less sturdy general. I’m undecided if it’s a distinction within the curvature or the manufacturing course of, however although these two baggage manufacturers use the identical materials, Away baggage is simply much more prone to crack or break.

Granted, that most likely gained’t occur with regular use, however you by no means know what these airline baggage handlers are going to do along with your bag.

One other space the place Away falls brief is within the wheels. Away makes use of good spinner wheels, they usually roll easily, however they positively aren’t as robust as Monos wheels, that are among the finest baggage wheels within the enterprise.

Away baggage has high-quality real leather-based detailing, together with zipper pulls and an included baggage tag.

Away Baggage Design & Options

Away baggage has all of the suitcase options you’d anticipate in a contemporary higher-end hardside bag: a sturdy telescopic deal with, TSA-approved lock, hidden laundry bag, and inside compression system. Nothing is especially excellent, but it surely’s all there, and all of it works.

One factor I really like about Away is what number of choices they supply. Their suitcases vary from a reasonably primary customary carry-on (creatively referred to as The Carry-On) to an expandable checked bag (The Medium Flex) to a compact underseat spinner (The Daily Carry-On).

Their customary Carry-On is sufficiently small for many worldwide flights, whereas the Larger Carry-On is designed to take absolutely the most allowable room within the overhead compartment on home flights.

All Away suitcase sizes can be found with an expandable design with their Flex collection. The issue is that the Flex suitcases are considerably dearer. I personally don’t suppose expandability is a obligatory characteristic, but it surely’s as much as you to determine should you want it. In that case, Away would be the most suitable option for you.

Away Baggage Execs and Cons

Whereas Away baggage is well-built, trendy, and full of helpful options, it falls behind Monos by way of high quality, sturdiness, and group.

That doesn’t imply it’s all cons although. Listed below are among the high professionals and cons of Away baggage:

Monos vs. Away: Which Ought to You Purchase?

So, now to the ultimate query: Monos vs. Away, which must you purchase?

Should you’ve been paying shut consideration, you most likely can already guess the reply:

Go together with Monos.

Monos baggage is larger high quality and extra sturdy than Away baggage, all whereas nonetheless being inexpensive throughout your complete vary. It additionally has extra options, pockets, and group.

If you would like a carry-on bag that can finest survive being stuffed into overhead bins and dragged for miles, or a checked suitcase that can arrive on the baggage carousel in a single piece, Monos is your finest guess.

Monos solely launched their merchandise in 2018, so nobody has had one lengthy sufficient to inform the way it holds up over many years of journey. I’ve little doubt, although, that should you get a Monos suitcase, you’ll have it for the remainder of your life. Plus, with their lifetime guarantee, should you ever do occur to interrupt it, they’ll restore or exchange it for you.

Don’t get me mistaken, Away baggage is nice (and should you’ve already purchased an Away case, you don’t need to remorse it). I simply don’t see a lot motive to select Away over Monos.

The one exception could be the Away Daily Carry-On. This miniature Away carry-on is sufficiently small to make use of as your private merchandise on most flights and works nice as a carry-on laptop computer bag.

Apart from that, should you’re out there for a brand new suitcase, simply decide Monos. You gained’t remorse it.

Monos vs. Away FAQs