About 8 months ago I was influenced by all the pretty ads online and bought the Monos carry-on.
Since then I’ve tested it on a few trips, And even though it’s clamshell, I think it might be one of the best ones on the market.
If you search for anything along the lines of ‘monos carry-on review’ you’ll find floods of Reddit threads and other blog posts about how it’s the ‘worst bag.’
I read all these claims and I truly don’t understand them.
It’s held up well on multiple flights, and with its 40L capacity, I can fit at least 10 days worth of outfits in it.
So if you’ve been considering the Monos Carry On- here are my honest (and unsponsored) thoughts on this bag.
Quick Pros & Cons About the Monos Carry-On:
- Pro: super sleek, minimalist look (love the color selection)
- Pro: handle has 4 height settings (and no jiggle)
- Pro: wheels are whisper quiet
- Pro: love the interior space and organization
- Con: scuffs easily
- Con: price – it’s an investment (read more to see if I think it’s worth it)
This post is not sponsored, nor did I receive this bag for free. However, this post does contain affiliate links and purchasing the bag using my links helps support me at no extra cost to you! Thank you 🙂
Size: Does it Fit in the Overhead Bins?
Yes – this carry-on fits on dozens of airlines.
Monos states that their carry-on measures 22 x 14 x 9 inches but I would say it’s on the smaller side of those measurements based on my testing.
I’ve tested the Monos Carry-on in multiple airline bins and even in the tighter sized bins it slid right in.
Which Airlines does it fit on?
In North America, this carry-on will fit on every airline.
It even fits on Air Transat which has smaller carry-on limits than most other north american airlines.
In the comment section of my video review of the Monos Carry-on, multiple people mentioned that this bag fits on budget airlines like Ryanair and easyjet.
Here are the airlines we know for sure that the Monos Carry-on fits:
The Monos Carry-on fits on so many airlines including:
- Aer Lingus
- Aeromexico
- Air Canada
- Air France
- Air Transat
- Alaska Airlines
- Allegiant
- American
- British Airways
- Cathay Pacific
- Copa
- Delta
- EasyJet
- Flair
- Frontier
- Iberia
- ITA
- JetBlue
- KLM
- LATAM
- Lufthansa
- Porter
- Qantas
- Ryanair
- SAS
- Southwest
- Spirit
- TAP
- United
- Volaris
- WestJet
Size Differences Between Carry-On, Plus, Pro and Pro-Plus
There are 4 different Monos carry-ons:
The regular carry-on, the carry-on plus, the carry-on pro, and the carry-on pro plus.
The plus is a slightly bigger version of this bag (the regular carry-on).
The pro adds the exterior zipper compartment and the pro plus is the bigger version of the carry-on with the added exterior pocket.
But remember to check the size of the airlines you will be flying.
That’s why I chose to get the regular carry-on, the smallest of them all so that it will fit on most airlines.
Monos Carry-on Features Overview
Wheels
This bag is outfitted with 360 degree spinner wheels that maneuver very easily.
They glide like butter on smooth surfaces and transition well to rougher pavement, and still rolls effortlessly on carpet when the bag is fully loaded.
It also rolls pretty straight when giving it the ‘ol push test.
So if you’ve ever raced through the airport and suddenly needed an iced coffee fix, you can quickly pivot with ease.
Monos has what they call whisper-quiet wheels.
If you don’t want to sound like a freight train rolling through the airport, I think you’ll be happy with this bag.
Telescopic Handle
Monos uses high grade aluminum for the handle/trolley system, so it’s a lot sturdier than cheaper bags that use cast zinc tubes.
When you look closely, you can see that the tubes are actually at a 45 degree angle so this helps reduce lateral movement and that loose, jiggly feeling.
And a feature that I love is that the handle has 4 height settings!
Most of my other bags only have 2 or 3.
So for a comparison – I am 5’1 (154cm) and my husband is 6’9 (205cm) so the 4 settings on the handle works for virtually every height.
Also the button is on the underside of the handle, underneath is supposed to be more ergonomic.
And the handle is rounded, so any other carry-on bag that you’re bringing, like a backpack or tote bag will slide over no problem.
Other Notable Features
Overall, the look of this bag is fantastic – it’s sleek, chic and minimalist.
It comes in 8 standard colors ranging from rose quartz to storm gray and also limited edition colors.
Mine is the terracotta color.
It also has TSA-approved locks on the side.
And ultra smooth YKK reverse coil zippers.
So not only do you get that smooth, clean appearance. The reverse orientation also protects it from sand and dirt getting into the coil.
Interior Features
This is a clamshell style bag designed really well.
Compression Pad System
My favorite part about this bag is the compression pad.
You really can compress everything down to squeeze as much as possible in here.
It’s also super strong and screwed to the aluminum frame. So it’s not going to start buckling if you’ve really packed it in.
This is a great feature because I can cinch down the compression pad and then have room to lay a hoodie or a blazer on top before closing the case.
Or, if you have dress shirts or formal wear, you can buy the matching garment sleeve from Monos to fit perfectly on top of the pad.
The pad is also removable if you don’t need it.
But it’s also got a flat zippered pocket.
So if you’re someone who still prints out your travel documents, or needs somewhere to store receipts on your trip, or I always seem to collect travel brochures – so this is the perfect spot for all that stuff.
Or sometimes if I’m only bringing one swimsuit and I’m not using packing cubes, it lays flat inside here too.
Deep, Zippered Compartment
The other side is fully zippered so it hides and contains everything.
It’s also quite deep for a clamshell bag because it doesn’t lose space from an exterior laptop pocket.
On this side I’ll usually pack a mix of shoes, my toiletries, hair tools and smaller clothing items like socks and undies, swimsuits, PJs or shorts and tanks.
And speaking of shoes, it even comes with 2 shoe bags and a laundry bag.
In the middle of the bag there’s also a smaller zippered pocket, perfect for jewelry and other small items.
How Much This Bag Fits
This is a 40L capacity bag and I’ve been able to pack 2 weeks worth of clothes without having to do laundry.
So if you can pack for 1 or 2 weeks and have access to laundry, you could travel for months with just this bag.
Watch my video review of the Monos carry-on for a full demonstration of how much fits in this bag.
Price
This bag retails around $250, but there are often sales throughout the year.
Any Downsides to the Monos Carry-on?
Everything has its downsides, so when I was doing some research for what to include in this review, I found some bad reviews from other customers so I wanted to put those claims to the test.
The Handle Test
Some people mentioned that the handle gets stuck when the bag is full and the compression pad is cinched down.
I packed this bag as full as I could and did not encounter this.
So I think if this is happening to you, you’ve packed way too much sh*t.
Lack of Front Pocket…is this is con?
I don’t know if this is necessarily a con, but there’s no front pocket on this bag.
But, the carry-on PRO size does have the exterior pocket if you need it.
However, no front pocket means you get more interior space while keeping the bag small enough to fit on most airlines.
So it’s a bit of a trade off.
And I think most people travel with at least another carry-on whether that be a backpack, sling bag, purse – so in my opinion, it’s not totally necessary.
Let’s Talk About Scuffs and Scratches
And something I do agree on with the reviewers out there is that yes, it does scuff easily.
But this is typically an issue with a lot of hardshells, especially if it doesn’t have ridges on the outside- but that can add weight, and maybe this material does scuff easier than others.
But as long as it’s just cosmetic, I think that luggage that’s been on adventures with you probably should have a travel scare or two.
We’ve put this gal through the ringer and I think it still looks pretty good.
It does come with a magic eraser though and using it, the scuffs seem to buff out pretty well.
Could use an Extra Handle
And I would love it if there was a small handle of some sort on the bottom of the bag.
There is a side handle, but I like to have options.
This is minor though and not a dealbreaker for me.
My Final Thoughts on Using the Monos Carry-on
After using the Monos carry-on for several trips, I can confidently say it’s one of the best on the market for those who value style, durability, and functionality.
The sleek, minimalist design and thoughtful features like the whisper-quiet wheels, sturdy telescopic handle, and spacious interior make it a standout choice for frequent travelers.
While the lack of a front pocket and its tendency to scuff might be drawbacks for some, these are minor issues compared to the overall quality and performance of the bag.
If you’re looking for a carry-on that balances aesthetics with practicality and can fit on a wide range of airlines, the Monos carry-on is a solid investment.
Just be prepared to pay a bit more for the luxury—and to show off a few travel scars along the way!