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 score 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 trendy and on-trend, however in addition they embrace a shocking array of progressive options.
Monos focuses on creating practical, 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 comparable: they each promote high-quality polycarbonate baggage. However while you dig underneath the floor, there are undoubtedly some essential variations.
I’ll stroll you thru these variations and enable you resolve which model has the correct suitcase for you.
Why You Can Belief Us
The TravelFreak editorial workforce has examined dozens of suitcases through the years, and we’ve realized lots about what separates a high quality piece of baggage from an overpriced, overhyped piece of plastic. We’ve examined and reviewed funds baggage, luxurious suitcases, and the whole lot in between.
We all know how arduous it’s to search out the proper suitcase, and we wish to make the method simpler for you. So our workforce of drugs junkies and product engineers developed probably 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 luggage from each manufacturers.
We evaluated each certainly one of these suitcases on 31 metrics throughout eight classes. We gave all of them the identical remedy and rated them on the identical standardized scales. This makes it straightforward for us (and also you) to check the benefits and drawbacks of every.
Béis vs Monos At a Look
Béis vs Monos: Fast Solutions
- Sturdiness: Monos baggage is mostly extra sturdy and well-built total.
- Value: Béis is cheaper 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 influence. 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 Model: Each manufacturers have minimalist, fashionable styling. Monos is a little more subdued {and professional}. Béis is a little more enjoyable.
- Inside Group: Béis and Monos have very comparable inside designs, however Béis suitcases have an additional toiletry pocket.
- Expandability: Each Béis suitcase is expandable, whereas it’s important to pay additional 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.
- Shade Choices: Each Monos and Béis have a variety of colour choices.
Béis vs Monos: Which Ought to You Purchase?
Purchase Béis should you…
- typically journey internationally (get the Small Carry-On Curler).
- want baggage for holidays and getaways.
- are a light-weight packer who doesn’t all the time want most carry-on dimension, OR
- typically want additional packing house.
Purchase Monos should 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 arduous shells for all of their baggage. Polycarbonate is just about the gold-standard materials for hardside suitcases proper now. It’s robust, light-weight, and scratch-resistant.
Essentially the most spectacular factor about Béis is that they’re in a position to provide 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 nicely made. The handles aren’t overly rattly, the inside lining is slick and waterproof, the spinner wheels are smooth-rolling and durable.
Nevertheless, Monos is a bit larger high quality in each respect. It’s not an enormous distinction, however Monos’ wheels, handles, and parts 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 mistaken, Béis baggage is lots sturdy; it’s simply not fairly as robust as Monos.
The one draw back is that I’ve seen Monos suitcases come out of the bags declare with some severe scratches and scuffs. That is solely beauty, but it surely nonetheless is a bummer. Thankfully, our information for how one can clear baggage has suggestions for how one can 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 assume you’ll be upset with both one. If sturdiness is your prime precedence, although, Monos is a better option.
That stated, 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 comparable. Each have streamlined polycarbonate shells with a collection of horizontal strains 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 (nicely, possibly the shiny yellow Béis Carry-On Curler would look misplaced in a convention room).
The similarities proceed when you open these suitcases up. They’ve very comparable layouts, with a zippered divider and a few pockets on one facet and an enormous compression panel with elastic straps on the opposite.
Sure, Béis and Monos suitcases are very comparable, however there are a number of essential variations that will make you lean by some means, relying on
First off, each single Béis suitcase is expandable, with a wrap-around zipper that provides additional depth. Monos has added expandable luggage to their lineup, however they value considerably greater than customary. For instance, examine the Béis Carry-On Curler with the equal Monos Expandable Carry-On.
For those who like the flexibility of an expandable suitcase, Béis provides you a a lot better bang to 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 far more protecting than the Béis Entrance Pocket Carry-On Curler. Monos can be my selection for touring with a laptop computer.
Monos suitcases are additionally somewhat less complicated and extra minimal, whereas Béis suitcases have a number of additional options. Béis luggage 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 pink in case your bag is over 50 lbs. There’s even somewhat retractable bag strap on prime you could loop by way of the deal with of a handbag or purse to connect it to your suitcase.
These options are the principle purpose 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 dimension choices that Monos doesn’t provide. Their Small Carry-On Curler is compact sufficient to suit throughout the strictest carry-on dimension limits anyplace on the planet. For those who’re touring internationally, that is most likely the most effective carry-on from both model.
Béis additionally has a Mini Curler, which is sufficiently small to suit underneath the airplane seat and rely as a private merchandise, and it’s lovable. It’s nice for teenagers, but it surely additionally works nicely if you’re a light-packer happening a fast weekend journey, particularly should you’re flying with a funds airline that expenses for carry-ons.
Worth for Your Cash
For those who’re attempting to get probably the most bang to your buck, Béis has decrease costs and extra options. Béis scored 7.8 for our Value-to-Efficiency metric, and Monos solely scored 6.7.
Particularly if you’d like any additional options like expandability or an additional pocket, Béis will prevent some money.
That stated, should you don’t care about expandability, the value distinction isn’t large, and Monos suitcases are undoubtedly sturdier and extra sturdy than Béis. For those who’re a frequent traveler, I feel investing a bit extra in a Monos suitcase will repay in the long term.
Guarantee and Shopping for Expertise
Béis has restricted lifetime guarantee that covers manufacturing defects and any main injury to the wheels, handles, or shell, however their guarantee coverage clearly states that they don’t cowl injury brought on by “accidents, abrasion… or airline dealing with.”
I’m unsure the way you’d break your suitcase with out an accident or abrasion. Principally, they’ll change your suitcase in the event that they resolve they wish to.
Monos’ guarantee is far more confidence-inspiring. They assure that they’ll restore or change your baggage if the shell, zippers, wheels, or handles are broken, and the exceptions are injury 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 supplies you time to resolve should you actually like your buy sufficient to maintain it.
Model Influence & Sustainability
This one’s easy. If shopping for sustainable merchandise issues to you, it’s best to select Monos over Béis. Monos scored 8.5 for model influence, 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 applications or initiatives in direction of sustainability or enhancing the influence of their merchandise and enterprise.
Monos, then again, makes use of recycled material in each suitcase, is Local weather Impartial Licensed, and is a member of 1% for the Planet, which implies they donate at the 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 might be 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.
Closing Ideas
Hopefully by now you’ve received a fairly good concept of the variations between Béis and Monos, and which one could be a greater match to your travels.
Desire a fashionable, sensible suitcase for getaway journeys? Béis baggage is trendy, cheaper, and loaded with options to make touring simpler.
Are you a frequent traveler seeking to spend money on a top-notch piece of baggage 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 nicely in our testing. I don’t assume you may go mistaken both approach, the selection simply comes right 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 made from?
Béis suitcases have hardshells created 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 huge for some funds worldwide flights.