MONOS Luggage Review: Is it 2024’s Best Large Checked Bag?

I’ve been eying up the Monos luggage for the last year, but kept talking myself out of it because I knew running around Europe long term with a giant piece of luggage for six months would be tough.

I reasoned that because I’m traveling longer than last year; it was the perfect time for me to allow myself to invest in a giant checked bag from Monos.

As a notorious over-packer, I was hoping this bag would keep me organized with its interior pockets, which made it a more appealing buy compared to Away’s Large Check-In. 

It’s also a climate neutral-certified brand, meaning I could really feel good about investing in the brand.

Plus, the shade of pink was similar enough to my Away Bigger Carry-On to make my luggage set not look totally mismatched.

Here’s my Monos luggage review to give the over-packers and frequent travelers among you a look at if this large check-in bag is worth the investment.

Overview of the Monos Large Checked Bag

Monos is quickly becoming a well-known name in the luggage game thanks to its low-key social media hype and rave reviews.

Co-founders Victor Tam, Hubert Chan, and Daniel Shin created Monos in 2018 with the mission to create a thoughtful and stylish climate neutral-certified luggage brand that sells directly to consumers.

They also decided to commit to sourcing high quality vegan alternative materials for their luggage.  

Thanks to its thoughtful lightweight design, interior compression system, laundry bag, and organized design, Monos luggage is quickly becoming one of their most popular luggage brands. 

You’re almost guaranteed to spot at least one in the airport every time you travel. 

The suitcase also has 360-degree spinner wheels that make navigating through busy streets and airports a breeze.

This suitcase is certainly a step up from the hand-me-down bag I’ve been using for the past decade. 

Though the price of investment is lower than other popular brands like Away, and Monos is constantly having sales, which makes investing in their luggage a no-brainer.

Monos Large Check-In Suitcase

The Monos Large Check-In is a great option if you can afford to spend a little more to invest in quality luggage that will keep you traveling in style.

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Things to Consider Before Buying a Large Checked Bag From Monos

Before you invest in a new suitcase, it’s important to consider what you need in a large checked bag.

If you’re a frequent traveler and looking for a large check-in that will keep you organized on the go, the Monos Large Check-In is a great option.

The suitcase is chic, durable, easy to organize while packing, simple to navigate around a busy airport, and can easily fit a ton of stuff!

In fact, Monos is so confident that you’ll love your new bag that they give you a 100 day guarantee window promising satisfaction or your money back.

That said, I know even with a price lower than Away, it’s still an investment spending a couple hundred on a new suitcase. 

If you don’t need all the extra features, and aren’t set on having a suitcase from a well-known brand, there are other, more affordable brands of large check-in luggage to consider.

Further Reading

The Best Carry-On Luggage For Women: 2024 Round-Up

Are you getting ready to invest in some new carry-on bags? Look no further than this list of the best carry-on luggage for women to find the perfect travel bag!

Monos Large Check-In Bag & Unboxing

What’s in the Box?

• The Monos Large Check-In
• Dust bag
• Laundry bag
• Shoe bags
• Cleaning kit
• Luggage tag

The overall thoughtful design of the suitcase and the packaging really impressed me when my Monos Large Check-In arrived.

I loved that it came with multiple shoe bags, a laundry bag.

It makes keeping dirty clothes and shoes separate so much easier when repacking. 

I’m also sure the cleaning kit is going to come in handy, since the light pink will surely continue to pick up dirt every time I check it in for flights.

Hardware and Design Features

The Monos Large Check-In weighs 10.58 lb, so it takes an average amount of the allowed weight that most airlines allow.

Its exterior measurements are 30″ × 21″ × 11″, with interior measurements of 28″ × 20.5″, making it a solid choice for a large checked bag.

The bag’s aerospace-grade, water-resistant German polycarbonate hard shell provides a lightweight and durable exterior. 

Fair warning, the exterior scuffs up a bit, as you’ll see in my current photos. To be fair, those markings are after about fifteen flights, and probably about a dozen train and bus rides in the last month.

You can easily clean up most marks with a magic eraser. Unfortunately I just didn’t pack mine for this trip, which is why all the photos show a very used looking suitcase.

The major reason I love this bag is its interior sectioned pockets, that make staying organized while constantly on the go a lot easier!

It features 360-degree spinner wheels, designed to make the suitcase easier to navigate in crowds. 

Apple AirTag 4 Pack

These are a travel must-have these days! After Heathrow lost my luggage for almost a week last summer, I invested in my first AirTag for my checked luggage, and now I'm obsessed!

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Plus, a TSA approved built in combination lock is also handy and easy to use when necessary. 

The only thing I dislike is the rubber portion that hides the back seam of the zipper. It constantly pops out of the zipper thread and ruins the look of the bag a little.

Thankfully, it’s easy enough to fix. Though when you’re on the move as much as me, it’s very annoying, to be constantly tucking the seam back in every time the suitcase gets zipped shut. I wish it was just sewn down to avoid always having to fix it every time I move locations.

Overall, the product is lightweight, with a thoughtful modern design and smooth navigation.

Monos Large Check-In Suitcase

The Monos Large Check-In is a great option if you can afford to spend a little more to invest in quality luggage that will keep you traveling in style.

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If you click this link and make a purchase, I earn a commission at no additional cost to you.

Performance

After seeing the Monos brand more and more on social media over the last year, I was excited to finally take one of their bags for a spin.

While packing, it felt pretty easy to organize my clothes, accessories, and shoes with no major hassle. Which is impressive, given that this time I was packing with living out of this suitcase and a duffle bag for the next six months. 

Normally I struggle a bit getting my luggage to close because I tend to over-pack. I loved that the compression compartment in this bag smashed down all my clothes in a quick and efficient way. 

The 360 degree wheels didn’t seem like a major draw when I was purchasing the bag, but they ended up being a game-changer for navigating the sidewalk and packed airport. They really made my trip a lot smoother compared to my old bag that would get stuck or tip over if I changed direction too quickly. 

That said, like any roller bag, it still was a workout getting this bag over cobblestone in Europe.

I will admit, I was nervous about handing this bag over to the gate agent to be checked, since I was sure it was going to be too heavy or end up completely dirty and dented.

Thankfully, I was just at the weight limit, and I got my luggage back in Nice looking like it was still brand new (shocking, I know).

Unfortunately, the next trip I wasn’t so lucky. British Airways lost my bag for four days while I was in London and finally returned it, filthy with a small dent in the backside of it (I’m still waiting for them to pay for damages).

AirTag Case Keychain

You'll def want a stylish case to keep your AirTag safe in your luggage.

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Fair warning for those who plan to use this bag for rail travel, make sure you can lift it up and down multiple steps.

I really struggled getting this baby up and down the multiple steps of the two trains it took for me to travel from London to Bruges.

You might laugh, but I actually fell out of the first train trying to swing this bag and my duffle bag down the two steps between the train and the platform. 

This bag broke my fall and likely saved me from tearing my pants or getting seriously injured—so you know it’s really durable if it can stand up to me falling on top of it!

Monos Large Check-In Suitcase

The Monos Large Check-In is a great option if you can afford to spend a little more to invest in quality luggage that will keep you traveling in style.

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If you click this link and make a purchase, I earn a commission at no additional cost to you.

Monos Large Checked Bag Alternatives

• Away Large Checked Bag: You still get 360-degree spinning wheels, built-in organization compartments, and a hard shell. I also really appreciate that their zipper seam is sewn down, unlike the Monos, one that constantly pops out of place. One of the major drawbacks to the Away bag is that its interior compartments aren’t as organized as Monos’ Large Check-In Bag.

Away Large Suitcase

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• American Tourister Stratum XLT Expandable Hardside Luggage: This luggage packs a lot of punch at over half the cost of the Monos Large Check-In Bag. It’s got wheels that rotate 360-degrees, is expandable, and a beautiful hard-shell that comes in a variety of colors. The downside is that it doesn’t have much organization inside and doesn’t come with any extras like laundry or shoe bags.

American Tourister Expandable Hardside Luggage

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• DELSEY Hardside Large Checked Bag: Coming in at just under the price of the Monos Large Check-In, the DELSEY bag, besides having a lot of the same features as the Monos luggage, stands out as one of the few large bags with a built-in brake system. It sounds random, but trust me, it comes in handy when you’re on uneven terrain or riding public transport.

DELSEY Paris Chatelet Hardside Luggage

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My Thoughts Overall On the Monos Large Checked Luggage

Monos Large Check-In Suitcase

The Monos Large Check-In is a great option if you can afford to spend a little more to invest in quality luggage that will keep you traveling in style.

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If you click this link and make a purchase, I earn a commission at no additional cost to you.

FAQs

Monos Large Check-In Suitcase

The Monos Large Check-In is a great option if you can afford to spend a little more to invest in quality luggage that will keep you traveling in style.

Check Best Price

If you click this link and make a purchase, I earn a commission at no additional cost to you.