Over the previous 10 years, the baggage market has boomed with startup manufacturers promoting stylish, polycarbonate suitcases with luxurious options however at costs decrease than luxurious manufacturers. Béis and Monos are two of those, and selecting between them isn’t straightforward.
I’ve spent months testing and analyzing dozens of suitcases, together with a number of fashions from these two manufacturers. I in contrast suitcases from each manufacturers utilizing our in-depth baggage score system, which evaluates baggage throughout 33 particular person goal and subjective metrics. These findings confirmed me precisely the place every model excels.
Béis was based by the actress and influencer Shay Mitchell. As you’d anticipate, Béis suitcases are very fashionable and on-trend, however additionally they embrace a shocking array of modern options.
Monos focuses on creating practical, minimalist baggage designed to supply luxury-level high quality at an accessible worth. Their design philosophy is to create easy designs and make merchandise that final.
On the floor, these two manufacturers are very related: they each promote high-quality polycarbonate baggage. However if you dig beneath the floor, there are undoubtedly some essential variations.
I’ll stroll you thru these variations and assist you determine which model has the appropriate suitcase for you.
Béis Overview
Actress Shay Mitchell based Béis in 2018 when she noticed a niche out there for sensible but trendy baggage and jumped on the alternative to fill it. She wished to create merchandise that not solely work, however are additionally a pleasure to make use of.
Béis focuses on each fashion and practicality, and also you’ll see that mirrored of their designs. Béis suitcases look superb, however they’re additionally loaded with good little options that will appear gimmicky at first look, aside from the truth that they work.
Béis can also be barely cheaper than Monos. In actual fact, when you’re searching for an on-trend suitcase that’s made with polycarbonate and sturdy elements, Béis is without doubt one of the most reasonably priced choices on the market.
Béis Supplies & High quality
Béis makes use of polycarbonate arduous shells for all of their baggage. Polycarbonate is just about the gold-standard materials for hardside suitcases proper now. It’s powerful, light-weight, and scratch-resistant.
Probably the most spectacular factor about Béis is that they’re capable of provide full polycarbonate suitcases at a lower cost than most of their rivals.
Past the shell, the small print of Béis suitcases additionally really feel effectively made. The handles aren’t overly rattly, the inside lining is slick and water resistant, the spinner wheels are smooth-rolling and durable.
But, whereas Béis does a stable job at high quality management, they’ll’t fairly compete with the rigorous testing that Monos does to their suitcases. For instance, Béis makes use of glue to connect their seize handles, whereas Monos makes use of sturdy screws. Don’t get me mistaken, Béis baggage is a lot sturdy; it’s simply not fairly as powerful as Monos.
One other draw back is that Béis hasn’t finished a lot towards utilizing sustainable supplies of their merchandise. They don’t use recycled supplies or offset their emissions. If sustainability is essential to you, Monos is method forward.
Regardless of these factors, Béis nonetheless provides a compelling alternative with their restricted lifetime guarantee—a promise that they consider within the longevity of their merchandise. It’s not all about being the hardest on the block; it’s additionally about belief and repair.
Béis Design and Options
First off, Béis baggage appears superb. The stylish design and large choice of enjoyable colours are excellent for expressing a bit persona when you journey. I do know that isn’t crucial factor for everybody, however I’ve discovered that if I like how my journey gear appears, I take pleasure in utilizing it extra and really feel higher whereas touring.
The design goes past appears although. Béis has all the things you’d anticipate in a sensible trendy suitcase: inside dividers and compression straps to maintain your garments in place, TSA locks, 360-degree spinner wheels, and inside pockets for smaller gadgets.
All of those options are nice to have, however none of them are distinctive. Nonetheless, Béis baggage does have just a few small particulars that I haven’t seen anyplace else.
First off, the seize handles on each Béis suitcase have a built-in weight indicator. Basically, in case your bag is over 50 lbs, a bit plastic window within the deal with will present up purple. In fact, this solely works in case your airline’s weight restrict is 50 lbs, nevertheless it’s a very good sanity test to have.
Béis baggage additionally comes with a small retractable bag strap. You may pull this little strap out from the highest of the suitcase and loop it by the deal with of your private merchandise bag. That method, you may wheel all the things round collectively in a single easy-to-manage package deal.
I’m very impressed with the design of Béis baggage general. It hits simply the appropriate steadiness between performance and ease.
Béis Baggage Professionals and Cons
Béis is a go-to for if you need your journey gear to make a press release with out breaking the financial institution. Béis baggage is well-designed and well-made.
Nonetheless, it isn’t excellent. The construct high quality is nice, nevertheless it’s not as spectacular as you’d get by paying just a bit bit extra for a Monos suitcase.
- Extra reasonably priced than Monos
- Contains helpful antimicrobial laundry luggage
- Options trendy laptop computer sleeves
- Comes with built-in weight indicators
- Gives high-end fashions at nice costs
- Sturdiness issues with glue-attached straps
- Restricted capability for heavy baggage
- Lacks eco-friendly supplies in design
Monos Overview
In 2018, three childhood mates in Vancouver launched Monos. Their purpose was to construct luxury-quality hardshell suitcases at a extra attainable worth. Their suitcases nonetheless aren’t low-cost, however they’ve a powerful high quality stage for the worth.
Monos baggage is designed by vacationers, for vacationers. Their purpose is to create practical, minimalist suitcases that do precisely what you want them to so you may concentrate on the experiences of your journey.
Monos impressed me additional by reaching Local weather Impartial Certification and being a part of the 1% for the Planet motion. As local weather change and international habitat destruction have gotten extra salient points, it’s essential to me to make use of and advocate manufacturers which are decreasing their impression. Monos is without doubt one of the greatest baggage manufacturers on the market in that regard.
Monos actually tunes into what at the moment’s vacationers are after, placing a steadiness between sturdy suitcases, modern appears, and inexperienced practices. Nonetheless, whereas they goal excessive with their beliefs, they fall considerably quick by way of thrilling extras.
Monos Supplies & High quality
Monos builds their suitcases to final, and that design intent reveals in each element. They supply high-quality supplies and elements and work with vetted factories to fabricate one of the best product for the worth.
They put every suitcase by a gauntlet of checks, together with a deal with jerk check, wheel abrasion check, drop checks, and extra. These checks simulate real-world abuse. Should you’re curious, I extremely advocate trying out their high quality testing. Only a few baggage producers go to such extremes to make suitcases that gained’t break.
The outer shell is made out of German Makrolon polycarbonate, which is probably one of the best materials at present obtainable for arduous aspect baggage. That is much like the polycarbonate utilized by Béis besides that it comes straight from Bayer, the German firm that invented polycarbonate within the first place.
The one draw back is that I’ve seen Monos suitcases come out of the luggage declare with some critical scratches and scuffs. That is solely beauty, nevertheless it nonetheless is a bummer. Luckily, our information for the way to clear baggage has suggestions for the way to take away these scuffs.
Many baggage manufacturers purchase handles and wheels from third-party suppliers, so that you’ll see the identical elements used throughout many alternative manufacturers. Monos couldn’t discover a telescoping deal with or spinner wheels that lived as much as their requirements, in order that they designed and constructed their very own from the bottom up.
The telescoping handles are made out of extruded aluminum quite than the usual forged zinc tubes. This makes them stronger and stiffer. In addition they offset the 2 telescoping sections 45 levels in both path. This makes them rather more steady than normal baggage handles.
Monos’ new wheels are among the greatest I’ve ever examined. They’re {smooth}, straightforward to maneuver, and really sturdy. They really feel considerably beefier than the wheels on Béis baggage.
In contrast to Béis, Monos’ heavy-duty seize handles are secured to the suitcase with screws as a substitute of glue. These particulars may appear minor at first look, however they point out a philosophy that values modern design as a lot as sustainability.
Monos Design & Options
The design language of Monos baggage is modern and minimalist. It’s arduous to not love the look of a Monos suitcase, particularly as a result of they arrive in a variety of colours. On the subject of fashion, Monos and Béis are each stylish, trendy, and on-trend. It should in the end come down to non-public choice.
The minimalist method extends to the small print and inside of Monos suitcases as effectively.
Inside, there’s a zippered divider with an enormous mesh pocket on one aspect and an enormous compression panel with just a few extra pockets and beefy straps on the opposite. The Monos compression straps are thick and have massive chunky buckles. They work method higher than the flimsier straps on Béis suitcases (or just about some other baggage, for that matter).
I additionally actually appreciated the telescopic deal with design. It’s contoured and cozy to carry, and the discharge button is on the underside aspect. This makes far more sense as a result of that’s the place your fingers go naturally.
Should you’re touring with a laptop computer or pill, the Monos Carry-On Professional is without doubt one of the greatest suitcases on the market. It has an exterior zippered pocket with a laptop computer sleeve and some smaller compartments for gadgets you need fast entry to. That’s one thing you gained’t get in a Béis suitcase.
One factor you gained’t get with Monos is an growth zipper. No Monos suitcases have the choice to broaden, and that does make them a bit much less versatile. If that’s an essential function for you, Béis might be a greater possibility.
Monos additionally doesn’t have all of the nifty options that Béis baggage delivers just like the built-in weight indicator and the retracting bag strap.
Monos Baggage Professionals and Cons
Monos stands out for its dedication to sustainability and a minimalist design. Their use of eco-friendly supplies and modern aesthetics in every Monos suitcase and Monos carry-on bag appeals to eco-conscious and style-savvy vacationers alike.
In comparison with Béis, Monos provides fewer bells and whistles, focusing as a substitute on doing the fundamentals rather well.
- Sturdy concentrate on sustainability.
- Makes use of sturdy, eco-friendly supplies.
- Smooth, minimalist design.
- Gives a lifetime guarantee.
- Options ergonomic handles and silent wheels.
- Increased worth level than Béis.
- Fewer modern options.
- Restricted vary of designs and colours.
- Not as many organizational compartments.
- May very well be too easy for tech-lovers.
Béis vs Monos: Which Ought to You Purchase?
Now you’ve acquired the fundamentals of each manufacturers. Should you’re nonetheless undecided what to choose, listed here are just a few factors that will help you determine.
Design and Options
Béis baggage brings a singular aptitude to the journey gear market, combining performance with an elegant aesthetic that stands out at baggage declare. Béis has just a few extra modern options that you just gained’t see in some other suitcase.
Monos, however, opts for a minimalist method that appeals to those that choose modern, uncomplicated designs. Their suitcases are marked by clear traces and a refined look.
Monos doesn’t have any loopy distinctive options, however each little element is well-thought-out and works flawlessly.
Sturdiness
If sturdiness is your primary precedence, Monos is the best way to go. Monos baggage makes use of sturdier elements and goes by rather more rigorous high quality testing. Monos additionally has a barely higher guarantee.
That mentioned, Béis baggage remains to be well-built and will nonetheless final for years of journey for most individuals.
Sustainability
Monos is without doubt one of the greatest baggage manufacturers on the market in the case of sustainability. They’re a member of 1% for the Planet and are Local weather Impartial Licensed. They use recycled supplies, renewable power, and sturdy elements which are designed to remain out of the landfill.
Béis can’t sustain right here, so if sustainability is essential to you, select Monos.
Worth
Béis baggage provides unimaginable bang in your buck. You may get a modern, high-quality polycarbonate suitcase for a lower cost.
Given the similarity between the 2 manufacturers, it’s fairly spectacular that Béis managed to construct such a aggressive product at this worth.
Béis Baggage Overview and Monos Baggage Overview FAQs
What supplies are Béis and Monos baggage made out of?
Do Béis or Monos suitcases provide guarantee or returns?
How do the designs of Béis and Monos baggage evaluate?
Are there any distinctive options in Béis or Monos baggage?
Monos baggage encompasses a extra sturdy and thicker shell, high quality compression panels, and contains washable luggage. Béis baggage is expandable, has a padded deal with, and provides extra colour decisions.
Jeremy Scott Foster
Jeremy Scott Foster is an adventure-junkie, gear skilled and journey photographer primarily based in Southern California. Beforehand nomadic, he’s been to ~50 nations and loves spending time outside. You may often discover him on the path, on the highway, leaping from bridges or hustling on his laptop computer working to supply one of the best journey and outside content material at the moment.
