In-Depth Lab & Travel Tests

Why It Got This Score

We test every suitcase across five core categories: Build Quality, Functionality, Ease of Use, Weather Resistance, and Price-to-Performance. For the Monos Carry-On Pro, the aerospace-grade polycarbonate shell helped it score a strong 9.1 in Build Quality—it’s durable, flexible, and made to last.

Its front tech compartment and well-organized interior earned it an impressive 9.5 in Functionality, while smooth wheels and a sturdy handle brought in a 9.4 for Ease of Use.

Weather Resistance came in a bit lower at 7.2, due to the unsealed zippers and lack of full waterproofing. Still, for the price, it’s a standout suitcase—scoring an overall 9.3 in our tests.

Given its exceptional performance in our tests, it’s easy to see why we named Monos our top choice in our guide to the best luggage brands of 2025.

Who It’s For

• Business travelers who need quick access to laptops, documents, and travel essentials through the padded front compartment with multiple pockets and zippered pouches
• Frequent flyers: Durable materials, smooth wheels, and organized compartments make this a reliable pick for regular travel, handling the wear and tear of constant use
• International Travelers: You hop between countries, and overhead bin rules vary. This carry-on is sized to fit in most global airlines
• Tech-Savvy Travelers: The front pocket is a game-changer—multiple small compartments for chargers and cables, plus larger sleeves that fit up to a 16-inch laptop, perfect for organizing devices and lightening your load on the go.

Who It’s Not For

• Budget Travelers: While it’s more affordable than some luxury luggage, it’s still an investment—not ideal if you’re looking for the lowest price point (even with occasional sales)
• Overpackers: It’s a true carry-on size that focuses on airline compliance, so if you tend to bring your entire closet, you might feel limited
• Rough-and-Tumble Adventurers: If you’re headed off-road or frequently travel to rugged destinations, a soft-shell duffle or outdoor gear might serve you better
• Those Who Prefer Soft-Shell Alternatives: If you prefer the flexibility, expandability, or look of fabric suitcases, the Monos Carry-On Pro’s rigid polycarbonate shell may not be your style.

Design & Aesthetics

The Monos Carry-On Pro leans into clean, minimalist design — and pulls it off pretty effortlessly. At first glance, it has a classic hard-shell look with smooth, rounded corners. You’d see on something like the Away Carry-On.

Monos and Away are two competing brands, both known for their minimalist aesthetics and practical features. Away leans into bold branding and tech integrations like built-in chargers, while Monos focuses more on refined craftsmanship and sustainable materials. This subtle difference makes the Carry-On Pro feel a bit more understated and sophisticated. 

The identifying feature on the back side is a series of horizontal indented lines toward the middle of the suitcase. 

When looking at the luggage directly, the standout feature is undoubtedly the zippered front pocket that “pops” out slightly from the rest of the bag, also accented by the same horizontal lines that continue around the circumference of the suitcase. The Monos logo (an M with three dots) is imprinted in a circle on the front side and on the vegan leather grab handles. 

Around the back, you’ll spot a horizontal line pattern indented into the shell — it’s understated but gives the suitcase a bit of character. These horizontal lines reappear on the front-facing zippered tech compartment, which slightly protrudes from the main body. It’s all coming together pretty nicely, design-wise.

I tried out the olive green option, but there are nine other colors – from bold Ocean Blue and Rose Quartz to more muted tones like Desert Taupe, Grey, and Black. There are even four limited edition shades if you’re into something a bit more unique.

Material & Build Quality

The Pro’s hard external shell is made from water-resistant polycarbonate, which is constructed from partially recycled materials. The grab handles on the top and side use vegan leather, and have enough “give” that they don’t feel stiff when I slide my hand in or out. 

The built-in TSA-approved lock snapped open and shut with ease and felt tightly secured within the shell of the luggage. The exterior compartment, which, in all likelihood, is where most people would keep valuable electronics for easy access, did not have a built-in lock. The zippers do have two small holes so a lock could be added, but none was provided. Although it’s not a deal breaker, it’s yet another thing to “remember to buy” during trip planning. 

The zippers on the main compartment also have holes for snapping into the locking mechanism, so if the built-in, TSA-approved locking system breaks sometime down the road (and hopefully this won’t happen), it could still be locked with a traditional lock— a small detail that adds a bit of extra longevity to the life of the suitcase.

One nice touch is the use of reverse coil YKK zippers, which seal on the inside rather than the outside, giving the bag a clean, smooth look and a tight seal. The sliding zippers were made with thick metal that gave me the impression they wouldn’t break easily. 

One issue I had when testing the Carl Friedrik was that its new, convenient zipperless design allowed quite a bit of water in during an unexpected rainshower. So, I decided to test the Monos the same way by pouring water over the zipper. I was happy to see that my clothes stayed completely dry inside. 

To be clear, I’m not saying the Monos Carry-On is waterproof, but if, for some reason, it gets wet (for a short period of time), the items inside have a good chance of staying dry. 

I brought the bag near a beach area in the Florida Keys, and when I set the bag down indoors, there was still some sand on it that left scratch marks, despite the minimal contact with it. For me, this seemed a little too quick for the shell to scratch, although sand is a damaging material for just about anything.

While the Monos Carry-On Pro excels in durability, see how its features compare directly to its top competitor in our Monos vs. Away analysis.

Weight & Portability

The Monos Carry-On Pro weighs 7.8 pounds, which is right around average for its size—comparable to the Away Carry-On at  7.5 pounds and the Tumi International Carry-On at 7.9) It also meets the standard carry-on size requirements for most airlines, so I had no trouble lifting, maneuvering, or passing it through security checks with ease.

I liked that the sides were nicely rounded, so it could slide in and out of tight spaces in my car without corners getting caught on anything. 

The large, 360-degree spinner wheels were specially designed by Monos and felt durable but smooth as the suitcase rolled across the floor. It rolled over sandy, textured pavement in the Florida Keys without getting stuck or dragged down.

The telescoping handle has four adjustment height options, but I’m fairly tall, so I only used the last one and it worked well for me. I did notice that when the bag was completely full, there was a slight amount of resistance and pressure when shutting or releasing the telescoping handle, but it was minimal and did not stick. 

When “flipping” the bag around in different directions, it would occasionally snag for a moment, so it wasn’t quite as fluid as other bags I’ve used, but I’m splitting hairs. Overall, it moved effortlessly, and the bag’s grip handle felt comfortable in my hand.

Organization & Accessibility

The Carry-On Pro’s design is geared toward organization, but that comes at the cost of space — it offers just 20L capacity, which is on the smaller side compared to similar models like the Away Carry-On, which holds 39.8L.

The exterior pocket also comes with three small pockets (I used them for my laptop charger, phone charger cable, and charge brick), as well as two larger sleeves that can fit a 16-inch laptop. I usually travel with two laptops (one for work and one for personal use), so the exterior compartment was perfect for stashing the one I didn’t need immediate access to and I’d keep the other one in my travel backpack for my road trip for easy access. This lightened the load so I didn’t have to tote both laptops into Starbucks every time I needed a coffee break. If you have several travel gadgets (like iPads, reMarkable writing notebooks, Kindles, etc), then this extra pocket could be really useful for you. 

However, if you’re traveling with just one device, the front pocket won’t be easily accessible during the flight since the carry-on usually goes in the overhead bin. I tested using the front pocket for clothes instead and managed to fit a few pairs of gym shorts and socks, making it a handy spot for extra storage when needed.

The interior zipped mesh pocket is perfect for socks, swimsuits, and undergarments, or, there is another mesh compartment behind it. However, when I put my sneakers into the pocket behind the mesh, it pressed into the exterior pocket, making it bow out so that it was difficult for the laptop to smoothly slide in and out. I still closed it, but it did have me worried about the laptop, so I put the sneakers into the main compartment instead. I did find the pocket behind the mesh the perfect place to stash my dirty clothes (compressed in plastic bags) as the trip progressed.

There’s also a compression pouch that can be strapped down with adjustable straps or removed completely. I found it useful for a couple of sundresses, so I didn’t have to roll or crinkle them with the rest of my shorts and T-shirts. Plus, the bag comes with three shoe or garment bags to keep things tidy.

Unique Features

The main draw that sets this carry-on suitcase apart is the exterior pocket that opens when the suitcase is standing vertically, instead of needing to rest it flat. This is an upgrade from the classic Monos Carry-On and is specifically designed for devices, chargers, and other must-have items in lieu of a briefcase or backpack. 

As mentioned, I also found this feature to be helpful when traveling with a personal item and several types of large electronic devices, so I could stow the one I wasn’t frequently using. Again, once you’re on the plane, this handy-quick access isn’t as useful, although it still beats having to butterfly the suitcase open to get something mid-flight.

Brand Impact & Sustainability

It’s essential to me that companies look beyond aesthetics and functionality to consider the broader environmental footprint of their product manufacturing. 

Monos has taken a few steps in the right direction, including utilizing vegan leather instead of animal-based products. 

Another huge win is that they use 100 percent recycled bottles to create the inner lining of the suitcase, and the handles and wheels contain a mix of 30 to 50 percent recycled and raw materials. The website also states that all of their products are free of PFAs, also known as “forever chemicals” that have been linked to harmful health issues in humans and animals. 

Monos is also a certified B Corp, an organization that rates businesses based on their governance, treatment of workers, community efforts, environmental practices, and customer stewardship. 

B Corp certification has long been considered a credible marker of businesses that go above and beyond to prioritize both people and the planet, and Monos scored an impressive 84.5 (well above the average of 50.9). However, more recently, critics have accused B Corp of greenwashing, prompting the company to overhaul its certification program.  

Monos also partners with Veritree, an organization that plants trees to reforest threatened areas, including the Old Bonjoge Forest in Kenya. 

As a consumer, it can be difficult to find proper disposal and recycling methods for unique items, so this is definitely an area they can improve on.

Warranty & Returns

Every Monos suitcase includes a limited lifetime warranty that covers wheel, handle, or lock replacements if they fail to work due to regular use. This doesn’t cover airline damage or zipper damage from travel, nor does it include lost luggage credits. 

However, Monos offers two extended warranties for purchase: the “Essential Plus” ($35) or the “Pro Plus” ($65). 

The “Essential Plus” includes: 

• Up to one claim for airline damage and zipper damage
• $50 luggage credit for lost luggage
• 15% off purchases

The “Pro Plus” warranty includes: 

• Two claims for airline damage and zipper damage
• $100 luggage credit for lost luggage 
• 30% percent off purchases 

The warranties must be added within two weeks of purchase in order to be valid. 

When you first get the luggage, you’ll enter a 100-day trial period, during which time you can return the luggage for a full refund, minus $25 for the return shipping fee.

Monos Carry-On Pro Alternatives

If you’re looking for durable, hard-shell carry-on luggage, there are several options available that blend style and functionality. Here are a few options in different price ranges: