Jeremy Scott Foster is an adventure-junkie, gear professional and journey photographer based mostly in Southern California.
Over the previous 10 years, the bags market has boomed with startup manufacturers promoting fashionable, 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 ranking 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 in addition they embody a shocking array of progressive options.
Monos focuses on creating useful, 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 while you dig beneath the floor, there are undoubtedly some essential variations.
I’ll stroll you thru these variations and show you how to resolve which model has the fitting suitcase for you.
Why You Can Belief Us
The TravelFreak editorial workforce has examined dozens of suitcases through the years, and we’ve realized quite a bit about what separates a high quality piece of bags from an overpriced, overhyped piece of plastic. We’ve examined and reviewed finances baggage, luxurious suitcases, and the whole lot in between.
We all know how exhausting it’s to seek out the proper suitcase, and we wish to make the method simpler for you. So our workforce of substances junkies and product engineers developed essentially the most complete baggage take a look at methodology potential.
We examined and rated 4 Béis suitcases and 11 Monos suitcases, together with carry-ons and checked baggage from each manufacturers.
We evaluated each considered one of these suitcases on 31 metrics throughout eight classes. We gave all of them the identical therapy and rated them on the identical standardized scales. This makes it straightforward for us (and also you) to match the benefits and downsides of every.
Béis vs Monos At a Look
Béis vs Monos: Fast Solutions
- Sturdiness: Monos baggage is usually extra sturdy and well-built total.
- Worth: Béis is inexpensive than Monos.
- Guarantee: Most Samsonite baggage has a 10-year guarantee, whereas Monos has a restricted lifetime guarantee on each suitcase.
- Sustainability: Monos is a lot better for sustainability and model affect. They’re Licensed Local weather Impartial and are a member of 1% for the Planet.
- Supplies: Each Monos and Béis use high-quality polycarbonate on all their merchandise.
- Design and Fashion: Each manufacturers have minimalist, trendy styling. Monos is a little more subdued {and professional}. Béis is a little more enjoyable.
- Inside Group: Béis and Monos have very related inside designs, however Béis suitcases have an additional toiletry pocket.
- Expandability: Each Béis suitcase is expandable, whereas you must pay further to get an expandable Monos suitcase.
- Wheels: Each manufacturers have high-quality double spinner wheels, however Monos’ wheels are a bit smoother and extra sturdy.
- Deal with: Monos baggage handles are stronger and have much less flex than Béis handles.
- Colour Choices: Each Monos and Béis have a variety of colour choices.
Béis vs Monos: Which Ought to You Purchase?
Purchase Béis when you…
- typically journey internationally (get the Small Carry-On Curler).
- want baggage for holidays and getaways.
- are a lightweight packer who doesn’t all the time want most carry-on measurement, OR
- generally want further packing area.
Purchase Monos when you…
- are a frequent traveler.
- primarily take home flights throughout the US.
- journey for enterprise or are a digital nomad.
- take longer journeys.
- care extra about sturdiness than options.
- are involved about sustainability and shopping for eco-friendly merchandise.
Supplies & High quality
Each Béis and Monos use polycarbonate exhausting 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 supply full polycarbonate suitcases at a lower cost than most of their rivals, together with Monos.
Past the shell, the main points of Béis suitcases additionally really feel effectively made. The handles aren’t overly rattly, the inside lining is slick and waterproof, the spinner wheels are smooth-rolling and durable.
Nonetheless, Monos is a bit greater high quality in each respect. It’s not an enormous distinction, however Monos’ wheels, handles, and elements are all only a bit higher than Béis’. For instance, Béis makes use of glue to connect their seize handles, whereas Monos makes use of sturdy screws, and the Monos telescoping deal with is stronger and has much less flex to it.
In our testing, Monos scored 9.2 for Construct High quality, whereas Béis scored 8.7.
Don’t get me flawed, Béis baggage is loads sturdy; it’s simply not fairly as powerful as Monos.
The one draw back is that I’ve seen Monos suitcases come out of the bags declare with some critical scratches and scuffs. That is solely beauty, but it surely nonetheless is a bummer. Thankfully, our information for the best way to clear baggage has ideas for the best way to take away these scuffs.
Each of those manufacturers design their baggage to be sturdy and to final for a very long time, so I don’t suppose you’ll be upset with both one. If sturdiness is your prime precedence, although, Monos is a more sensible choice.
That mentioned, Béis is fairly shut and is available in at a lower cost.
Design & Options
On the floor, Béis and Monos baggage appears to be like fairly related. Each have streamlined polycarbonate shells with a collection of horizontal traces so as to add some curiosity. I’d say that Monos baggage appears to be like extra understated {and professional} (particularly in black, navy, or grey), whereas Béis is a bit more playful. However actually, both one is flexible sufficient to slot in in any scenario (effectively, perhaps the vivid yellow Béis Carry-On Curler would look misplaced in a convention room).
The similarities proceed when you open these suitcases up. They’ve very related layouts, with a zippered divider and a few pockets on one aspect and a giant compression panel with elastic straps on the opposite.
Sure, Béis and Monos suitcases are very related, however there are a number of essential variations that will make you lean come what may, relying on
First off, each single Béis suitcase is expandable, with a wrap-around zipper that provides further depth. Monos has added expandable baggage to their lineup, however they value considerably greater than commonplace. For instance, examine the Béis Carry-On Curler with the equal Monos Expandable Carry-On.
When you like the flexibility of an expandable suitcase, Béis offers you a a lot better bang on your buck.
Each manufacturers have a carry-on mannequin with a entrance pocket for a laptop computer, however the Monos Carry-On Professional has a pocket that’s rather more protecting than the Béis Entrance Pocket Carry-On Curler. Monos could be my alternative for touring with a laptop computer.
Monos suitcases are additionally somewhat easier and extra minimal, whereas Béis suitcases have a number of further options. Béis baggage have a number of extra pockets inside, together with a water-resistant toiletry pocket. Additionally they have a weight indicator on the deal with that may present purple in case your bag is over 50 lbs. There’s even somewhat retractable bag strap on prime you can loop via the deal with of a handbag or purse to connect it to your suitcase.
These options are the primary motive Béis scored 9.0 for performance, whereas Monos solely scored 8.5. They aren’t game-changers, however they’re good to have.
Lastly, and this one’s essential, Béis has a number of measurement choices that Monos doesn’t supply. Their Small Carry-On Curler is compact sufficient to suit throughout the strictest carry-on measurement limits anyplace on this planet. When you’re touring internationally, that is in all probability the perfect carry-on from both model.
Béis additionally has a Mini Curler, which is sufficiently small to suit beneath the airplane seat and depend as a private merchandise, and it’s cute. It’s nice for youths, but it surely additionally works effectively if you’re a light-packer happening a fast weekend journey, particularly when you’re flying with a finances airline that fees for carry-ons.
Worth for Your Cash
When you’re attempting to get essentially the most bang on your buck, Béis has decrease costs and extra options. Béis scored 7.8 for our Worth-to-Efficiency metric, and Monos solely scored 6.7.
Particularly if you would like any further options like expandability or an additional pocket, Béis will prevent some money.
That mentioned, when you don’t care about expandability, the worth distinction isn’t big, and Monos suitcases are undoubtedly sturdier and extra sturdy than Béis. When you’re a frequent traveler, I believe investing a bit extra in a Monos suitcase will repay in the long term.
Guarantee and Shopping for Expertise
Béis has an excellent restricted lifetime guarantee that covers manufacturing defects and any main harm to the wheels, handles, or shell, however their guarantee coverage clearly states that they don’t cowl harm brought on by “accidents, abrasion… or airline dealing with.”
I’m undecided the way you’d break your suitcase with out an accident or abrasion. Principally, they’ll exchange your suitcase in the event that they resolve they wish to.
Monos’ guarantee is rather more confidence-inspiring. They assure that they’ll restore or exchange your baggage if the shell, zippers, wheels, or handles are broken, and the exceptions are harm brought on by “intentional abuse, modification, tampering, and/or alteration.”
That makes far more sense.
Monos baggage does value a bit extra, however you’re paying for sturdiness and their higher lifetime guarantee. Additionally they have a 100-day trial interval, which provides you time to resolve when you actually like your buy sufficient to maintain it.
Model Impression & Sustainability
This one’s easy. If shopping for sustainable merchandise issues to you, you need to select Monos over Béis. Monos scored 8.5 for model affect, and Béis scored a fairly disappointing 4.5.
Béis doesn’t use recycled supplies, and so far as I’ve been capable of finding, they haven’t any packages or initiatives in direction of sustainability or bettering the affect of their merchandise and enterprise.
Monos, however, makes use of recycled material in each suitcase, is Local weather Impartial Licensed, and is a member of 1% for the Planet, which suggests they donate at the very least 1% of income to environmental non-profits like Ecotrust Canada, Earth Guardians, and Heal the Ocean. To date they’ve donated $1,738,755.
Additionally, by constructing merchandise which are designed to final a very long time and offering a dependable lifetime guarantee, Monos is working to maintain their suitcases from ending up in landfills. That’s good for you and for the planet.
Last Ideas
Hopefully by now you’ve received a fairly good thought of the variations between Béis and Monos, and which one is likely to be a greater match on your travels.
Desire a fashionable, sensible suitcase for getaway journeys? Béis baggage is fashionable, inexpensive, and loaded with options to make touring simpler.
Are you a frequent traveler trying to put money into a top-notch piece of bags that may final for years of journey. Monos solely prices somewhat greater than Béis, and their suitcases are extra sturdy and refined (and include a greater guarantee).
I’ve been proud of suitcases from each manufacturers, and so they each carried out effectively in our testing. I don’t suppose you possibly can go flawed both approach, the selection simply comes all the way down to what you prioritize.
Béis Baggage Assessment and Monos Baggage Assessment FAQs
Is Béis or Monos baggage higher?
What are alternate options to Monos baggage?
Is Monos a Japanese model?
No, Monos is headquartered in Vancouver, Canada.
What materials is Béis baggage fabricated from?
Béis suitcases have hardshells produced from 100% polycarbonate.
Does the Monos Carry-On match within the overhead bin?
The Monos Carry-On will match within the overhead bin on most main airways, however it might be too massive for some finances worldwide flights.