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

So, you’ve determined to donate your outdated, low cost, hand-me-down baggage and get your self a pleasant suitcase. In case you’re available in the market for contemporary, upscale baggage, odds are you’ve seen the names Monos and Away in your search. These two baggage manufacturers are direct rivals, and each concentrate on smooth, high-quality hardside suitcases.

However which one is best?

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—all around 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 wish to learn? Right here’s the spoiler: simply purchase Monos.

Monos Baggage Overview

Monos is a Vancouver-based baggage model that was based in 2018. Their mission is to supply merchandise that assist you 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 slightly 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 basically 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 (no less than they need to), however I’ve not often seen a model make that public the way in which Monos does. Their quality testing is intensive (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 info, learn our full Monos luggage review.

Monos Baggage Supplies & High quality

As you’d count on 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 today 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 laborious shell suitcases. Monos building is among the many greatest. 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 provides 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. Actually, I don’t see a lot motive to purchase one in all their hybrid instances. They’re heavier, costlier, and tougher to make use of. The basic Monos suitcases are loads sturdy.

The standard and sturdiness goes past the shell, too. Each Monos suitcase makes use of robust YKK zippers (one of the best within the enterprise) and high-performance spinner wheels that Monos designed from the bottom as much as be one of the best available on the market. Certain sufficient, that is a number of 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 tender stain-resistant lining that’s simple to maintain recent 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, trendy aesthetic simply seems actually good (I personally a lot want Monos styling to Away).

Inside, you get loads of options for conserving all the things 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 all the things 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 a couple of extra pockets than the carry-on fashions, however that’s the primary distinction.

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

The Monos Carry-On Professional is without doubt one of the best carry-on suitcases on the market. It has all the standard and options as the traditional Monos Carry-On, nevertheless it 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 Professionals and Cons

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

Listed here are a number of the high execs and cons of Monos in comparison with Away:

Away Baggage Overview

Away might be probably the most on-trend baggage model immediately. 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 one in all their founders, Jen Rubio, had her suitcase break up open within the airport, dumping all of her belongings throughout the ground. After that she needed to create trendy 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.

In order for you much more element, you may learn our full Away Luggage Review.

Away Baggage Supplies & High quality

Identical to Monos, Away baggage begins with a sturdy polycarbonate shell. Away laborious shells aren’t as rounded as Monos, and so they have a rougher floor end. I personally like this rougher end as a result of it hides scratches higher, nevertheless it additionally isn’t as smooth trying as Monos.

One thing in regards to the design of the Away laborious 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 though these two baggage manufacturers use the identical materials, Away baggage is simply much more more likely to crack or break.

Granted, that most likely received’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, and so they roll easily, however they positively aren’t as powerful as Monos wheels, that are a number of the greatest 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 count on in a contemporary higher-end hardside bag: a sturdy telescopic deal with, TSA-approved lock, hidden laundry bag, and inner compression system. Nothing is especially excellent, nevertheless it’s all there, and all of it works.

One factor I like about Away is what number of choices they supply. Their suitcases vary from a reasonably fundamental 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 Greater 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 costlier. I personally don’t suppose expandability is a vital characteristic, nevertheless it’s as much as you to determine in case you want it. If that’s the case, Away would be the most suitable option for you.

Away Baggage Professionals 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 here are a number of the high execs and cons of Away baggage:

Monos vs. Away: Which Ought to You Purchase?

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

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

Go together with Monos.

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

In order for you a carry-on bag that may greatest survive being stuffed into overhead bins and dragged for miles, or a checked suitcase that may arrive on the baggage carousel in a single piece, Monos is your greatest wager.

Monos solely launched their merchandise in 2018, so nobody has had one lengthy sufficient to inform the way it holds up over a long time of journey. I’ve little question, although, that in case you get a Monos suitcase, you’ll have it for the remainder of your life. Plus, with their lifetime guarantee, in case 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 in case you’ve already purchased an Away case, you don’t must remorse it). I simply don’t see a lot motive to choose 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, in case you’re available in the market for a brand new suitcase, simply decide Monos. You received’t remorse it.

Monos vs. Away FAQs