In-Depth Lab & Journey Checks

Why It Acquired This Rating

We take a look at each suitcase throughout 5 core classes: Construct High quality, Performance, Ease of Use, Climate Resistance, and Value-to-Efficiency. For the Monos Carry-On Professional, the aerospace-grade polycarbonate shell helped it rating a robust 9.1 in Construct High quality—it’s sturdy, versatile, and made to final.

Its entrance tech compartment and well-organized inside earned it a powerful 9.5 in Performance, whereas clean wheels and a sturdy deal with introduced in a 9.4 for Ease of Use.

Climate Resistance got here in a bit decrease at 7.2, because of the unsealed zippers and lack of full waterproofing. Nonetheless, for the worth, it’s a standout suitcase—scoring an total 9.3 in our assessments.

Given its distinctive efficiency in our assessments, it’s straightforward to see why we named Monos our best choice in our information to the greatest baggage manufacturers of 2025.

Who It’s For

• Enterprise vacationers who want fast entry to laptops, paperwork, and journey necessities by the padded entrance compartment with a number of pockets and zippered pouches
• Frequent flyers: Sturdy supplies, clean wheels, and arranged compartments make this a dependable decide for normal journey, dealing with the damage and tear of fixed use
• Worldwide Vacationers: You hop between international locations, and overhead bin guidelines differ. This carry-on is sized to slot in most world airways
• Tech-Savvy Vacationers: The entrance pocket is a game-changer—a number of small compartments for chargers and cables, plus bigger sleeves that match as much as a 16-inch laptop computer, good for organizing units and lightening your load on the go.

Who It’s Not For

• Finances Vacationers: Whereas it’s extra reasonably priced than some luxurious baggage, it’s nonetheless an funding—not ideally suited for those who’re on the lookout for the bottom value level (even with occasional gross sales)
• Overpackers: It’s a real carry-on measurement that focuses on airline compliance, so for those who are inclined to convey your total closet, you may really feel restricted
• Tough-and-Tumble Adventurers: For those who’re headed off-road or continuously journey to rugged locations, a soft-shell duffle or out of doors gear may serve you higher
• These Who Choose Delicate-Shell Alternate options: For those who want the pliability, expandability, or look of cloth suitcases, the Monos Carry-On Professional’s inflexible polycarbonate shell is probably not your model.

Design & Aesthetics

The Monos Carry-On Professional leans into clear, minimalist design — and pulls it off fairly effortlessly. At first look, it has a traditional hard-shell look with clean, rounded corners. You’d see on one thing just like the Away Carry-On.

Monos and Away are two competing manufacturers, each identified for his or her minimalist aesthetics and sensible options. Away leans into daring branding and tech integrations like built-in chargers, whereas Monos focuses extra on refined craftsmanship and sustainable supplies. This refined distinction makes the Carry-On Professional really feel a bit extra understated and complicated. 

The figuring out function on the again aspect is a sequence of horizontal indented strains towards the center of the suitcase. 

When wanting on the baggage straight, the standout function is undoubtedly the zippered entrance pocket that “pops” out barely from the remainder of the bag, additionally accented by the identical horizontal strains that proceed across the circumference of the suitcase. The Monos brand (an M with three dots) is imprinted in a circle on the entrance aspect and on the vegan leather-based seize handles. 

Across the again, you’ll spot a horizontal line sample indented into the shell — it’s understated however provides the suitcase a little bit of character. These horizontal strains reappear on the front-facing zippered tech compartment, which barely protrudes from the principle physique. It’s all coming collectively fairly properly, design-wise.

I attempted out the olive inexperienced choice, however there are 9 different colours – from daring Ocean Blue and Rose Quartz to extra muted tones like Desert Taupe, Gray, and Black. There are even 4 restricted version shades for those who’re into one thing a bit extra distinctive.

Materials & Construct High quality

The Professional’s laborious exterior shell is made out of water resistant polycarbonate, which is constructed from partially recycled supplies. The seize handles on the highest and aspect use vegan leather-based, and have sufficient “give” that they don’t really feel stiff once I slide my hand in or out. 

The built-in TSA-approved lock snapped open and shut with ease and felt tightly secured inside the shell of the bags. The outside compartment, which, in all probability, is the place most individuals would preserve helpful electronics for simple entry, didn’t have a built-in lock. The zippers do have two small holes so a lock could possibly be added, however none was supplied. Though it’s not a deal breaker, it’s one more factor to “keep in mind to purchase” throughout journey planning. 

The zippers on the principle compartment even have holes for snapping into the locking mechanism, so if the built-in, TSA-approved locking system breaks someday down the highway (and hopefully this gained’t occur), it may nonetheless be locked with a conventional lock— a small element that provides a bit of additional longevity to the lifetime of the suitcase.

One good contact is using reverse coil YKK zippers, which seal on the within somewhat than the skin, giving the bag a clear, clean look and a decent seal. The sliding zippers have been made with thick metallic that gave me the impression they wouldn’t break simply. 

One problem I had when testing the Carl Friedrik was that its new, handy zipperless design allowed fairly a little bit of water in throughout an surprising rainshower. So, I made a decision to check the Monos the identical method by pouring water over the zipper. I used to be joyful to see that my garments stayed utterly dry inside. 

To be clear, I’m not saying the Monos Carry-On is waterproof, but when, for some purpose, it will get moist (for a brief time period), the objects inside have a great likelihood of staying dry. 

I introduced the bag close to a seashore space within the Florida Keys, and once I set the bag down indoors, there was nonetheless some sand on it that left scratch marks, regardless of the minimal contact with it. For me, this appeared a little bit too fast for the shell to scratch, though sand is a harmful materials for absolutely anything.

Whereas the Monos Carry-On Professional excels in sturdiness, see how its options examine on to its high competitor in our Monos vs. Away evaluation.

Weight & Portability

The Monos Carry-On Professional weighs 7.8 kilos, which is true round common for its measurement—corresponding to the Away Carry-On at  7.5 kilos and the Tumi Worldwide Carry-On at 7.9) It additionally meets the normal carry-on measurement necessities for many airways, so I had no bother lifting, maneuvering, or passing it by safety checks with ease.

I favored that the edges have been properly rounded, so it may slide out and in of tight areas in my automobile with out corners getting caught on something. 

The big, 360-degree spinner wheels have been specifically designed by Monos and felt sturdy however clean because the suitcase rolled throughout the ground. It rolled over sandy, textured pavement within the Florida Keys with out getting caught or dragged down.

The telescoping deal with has 4 adjustment top choices, however I’m pretty tall, so I solely used the final one and it labored nicely for me. I did discover that when the bag was utterly full, there was a slight quantity of resistance and stress when shutting or releasing the telescoping deal with, but it surely was minimal and didn’t stick. 

When “flipping” the bag round in several instructions, it will sometimes snag for a second, so it wasn’t fairly as fluid as different baggage I’ve used, however I’m splitting hairs. General, it moved effortlessly, and the bag’s grip deal with felt comfy in my hand.

Group & Accessibility

The Carry-On Professional’s design is geared towards group, however that comes at the price of area — it presents simply 20L capability, which is on the smaller aspect in comparison with related fashions just like the Away Carry-On, which holds 39.8L.

The outside pocket additionally comes with three small pockets (I used them for my laptop computer charger, telephone charger cable, and cost brick), in addition to two bigger sleeves that may match a 16-inch laptop computer. I often journey with two laptops (one for work and one for private use), so the outside compartment was good for stashing the one I didn’t want speedy entry to and I’d preserve the opposite one in my journey backpack for my highway journey for simple entry. This lightened the load so I didn’t need to tote each laptops into Starbucks each time I wanted a espresso break. When you have a number of journey devices (like iPads, reMarkable writing notebooks, Kindles, and so forth), then this further pocket could possibly be actually helpful for you. 

Nonetheless, for those who’re touring with only one machine, the entrance pocket gained’t be simply accessible in the course of the flight for the reason that carry-on often goes within the overhead bin. I examined utilizing the entrance pocket for garments as an alternative and managed to suit a number of pairs of fitness center shorts and socks, making it a helpful spot for further storage when wanted.

The inside zipped mesh pocket is ideal for socks, swimsuits, and undergarments, or, there may be one other mesh compartment behind it. Nonetheless, once I put my sneakers into the pocket behind the mesh, it pressed into the outside pocket, making it bow out in order that it was tough for the laptop computer to easily slide out and in. I nonetheless closed it, but it surely did have me anxious in regards to the laptop computer, so I put the sneakers into the principle compartment as an alternative. I did discover the pocket behind the mesh the proper place to stash my soiled garments (compressed in plastic baggage) because the journey progressed.

There’s additionally a compression pouch that may be strapped down with adjustable straps or eliminated utterly. I discovered it helpful for a few sundresses, so I didn’t need to roll or crinkle them with the remainder of my shorts and T-shirts. Plus, the bag comes with three shoe or garment baggage to maintain issues tidy.

Distinctive Options

The primary draw that units this carry-on suitcase aside is the outside pocket that opens when the suitcase is standing vertically, as an alternative of needing to relaxation it flat. That is an improve from the traditional Monos Carry-On and is particularly designed for units, chargers, and different must-have objects in lieu of a briefcase or backpack. 

As talked about, I additionally discovered this function to be useful when touring with a private merchandise and a number of varieties of massive digital units, so I may stow the one I wasn’t continuously utilizing. Once more, when you’re on the airplane, this handy-quick entry isn’t as helpful, though it nonetheless beats having to butterfly the suitcase open to get one thing mid-flight.

Model Influence & Sustainability

It’s important to me that corporations look past aesthetics and performance to contemplate the broader environmental footprint of their product manufacturing. 

Monos has taken a number of steps in the precise course, together with using vegan leather-based as an alternative of animal-based merchandise. 

One other large win is that they use one hundred pc recycled bottles to create the inside lining of the suitcase, and the handles and wheels include a mixture of 30 to 50 % recycled and uncooked supplies. The web site additionally states that every one of their merchandise are freed from PFAs, also called “endlessly chemical substances” which have been linked to dangerous well being points in people and animals. 

Monos can be a licensed B Corp, a corporation that charges companies primarily based on their governance, remedy of staff, group efforts, environmental practices, and buyer stewardship. 

B Corp certification has lengthy been thought of a reputable marker of companies that go above and past to prioritize each individuals and the planet, and Monos scored a powerful 84.5 (nicely above the typical of fifty.9). Nonetheless, extra just lately, critics have accused B Corp of greenwashing, prompting the corporate to overhaul its certification program.  

Monos additionally companions with Veritree, a corporation that crops bushes to reforest threatened areas, together with the Previous Bonjoge Forest in Kenya. 

As a shopper, it may be tough to search out correct disposal and recycling strategies for distinctive objects, so that is undoubtedly an space they’ll enhance on.

Guarantee & Returns

Each Monos suitcase features a restricted lifetime guarantee that covers wheel, deal with, or lock replacements in the event that they fail to work because of common use. This doesn’t cowl airline injury or zipper injury from journey, nor does it embody misplaced baggage credit. 

Nonetheless, Monos presents two prolonged warranties for buy: the “Important Plus” ($35) or the “Professional Plus” ($65). 

The “Important Plus” contains: 

• As much as one declare for airline injury and zipper injury
• $50 baggage credit score for misplaced baggage
• 15% off purchases

The “Professional Plus” guarantee contains: 

• Two claims for airline injury and zipper injury
• $100 baggage credit score for misplaced baggage 
• 30% % off purchases 

The warranties should be added inside two weeks of buy to be able to be legitimate. 

If you first get the bags, you’ll enter a 100-day trial interval, throughout which period you possibly can return the bags for a full refund, minus $25 for the return delivery payment.

Monos Carry-On Professional Alternate options

For those who’re on the lookout for sturdy, hard-shell carry-on baggage, there are a number of choices out there that mix model and performance. Listed here are a number of choices in several value ranges: