Monos’ combination of superior build quality and lower prices makes picking Monos luggage over Away an easy choice—unless you want a softside suitcase.
If you’re in the market for modern, upscale luggage, odds are you’ve seen the names Monos and Away in your search. These two luggage brands are direct competitors, and both specialize in sleek, high-quality hardside suitcases.
But which one is better?
As someone who’s been traveling for more than a decade, I’ve had a lot of hands-on experience with both of these brands. I’ve spent multiple years using bags from each brand—all over the world—and in this comparison between the two, I’ll be breaking down the details and addressing their strengths and weaknesses.
There are a lot of similarities between Monos and Away. Both are startups founded in the last ten years. Both offer stylish hardside cases with polycarbonate shells. Both have grown loyal customer bases, especially among younger travelers. Both have very similar luggage designs, but there are some key differences that will affect which one you'll want to choose.
Monos and Away are two of the top names in modern luggage. See where both rank in our definitive guide to the best luggage brands.
The TravelFreak editorial team is made of avid travelers, vanlifers, photographers, product engineers, and overall gear junkies. We believe that quality gear can greatly improve the quality of a trip. And while high quality gear isn’t always necessary, we do believe in investing in gear that will last a lifetime.
We only recommend products that we actually like and that we would use ourselves. We are not swayed by financial incentives to recommend products. Our recommendations are based on both real-world personal experience and in-house data analysis.
Our editorial team has owned and used multiple different suitcases from both Monos and Away. We’ve taken them on real trips and tested them in airports, airplanes, hotels and cities around the world. This is the foundation of our reviews and recommendations.
Additionally, we’ve analyzed objective data from 11 different Monos suitcases and 8 Away suitcases including carry-ons and checked bags from both brands. Our proprietary luggage test methodology incorporates 31 data points for every suitcase across eight categories.
We rate every suitcase on the same standardized scales. This makes it easy for us (and you) to compare the advantages and disadvantages of each.
If you want to learn more about how we test and rate luggage, you can read a breakdown of our full luggage rating system here.
By combining these data-driven insights with our real-world experiences, we are able to give you a more detailed and objective comparison. Ultimately, our goal is to help you find a suitcase that will serve you well for years to come.
| Scores |  |  |
|---|---|---|
Average Overall Score★ 9.4 and Above: Best in Class – It is very hard to earn this score. These suitcases perform well across every category, and we recommend them universally. These are the best of the best. ★ 8.9–9.3: Highly Recommended – These are excellent and high-performing bags. Depending on your specific needs, one of these may be a better fit than our best overall picks. ★ 8.3–8.8: Great for the Right Use – We typically recommend these bags for more specific use cases, because their outstanding performance in one area may have other tradeoffs. ★ 7.5–8.2: Good with Some Compromises – These are still good bags that we generally recommend. There are some compromises to be aware of depending on your use case. ★ 7.4 and Under: Not Recommended – We generally don’t review or recommend bags that score this low, except possibly as a budget pick. They typically have significant issues with quality or function. | 9.4 | 8.5 |
★ 9.4 and Above: Best in Class – It is very hard to earn this score. These suitcases perform well across every category, and we recommend them universally. These are the best of the best. ★ 8.9–9.3: Highly Recommended – These are excellent and high-performing bags. Depending on your specific needs, one of these may be a better fit than our best overall picks. ★ 8.3–8.8: Great for the Right Use – We typically recommend these bags for more specific use cases, because their outstanding performance in one area may have other tradeoffs. ★ 7.5–8.2: Good with Some Compromises – These are still good bags that we generally recommend. There are some compromises to be aware of depending on your use case. ★ 7.4 and Under: Not Recommended – We generally don’t review or recommend bags that score this low, except possibly as a budget pick. They typically have significant issues with quality or function. | ||
Average Build Quality ScoreAccounting for 30% of the Overall Score, we believe that Build Quality/durability is the single most important factor when it comes to rating and scoring a piece of luggage. It’s not the end-all-be-all, but we believe it should earn the highest weighting in our calculations. We rate luggage build quality on eight objective and subjective attributes. A backpack gets a 0-10 score for each attribute based on a standardized scale. Then we use a weighted average to calculate an overall Build Quality score. The six attributes we use to calculate the score are:
| 9.2 | 7.9 |
Accounting for 30% of the Overall Score, we believe that Build Quality/durability is the single most important factor when it comes to rating and scoring a piece of luggage. It’s not the end-all-be-all, but we believe it should earn the highest weighting in our calculations. We rate luggage build quality on eight objective and subjective attributes. A backpack gets a 0-10 score for each attribute based on a standardized scale. Then we use a weighted average to calculate an overall Build Quality score. The six attributes we use to calculate the score are:
| ||
Average Ease of Use ScoreAccounting for 20% of the Overall Score, Ease of Use refers to whether or not the suitcase is easy to pack, easy to move and easy to organize. We score Ease of Use based on four categories:
| 8.7 | 7.8 |
Accounting for 20% of the Overall Score, Ease of Use refers to whether or not the suitcase is easy to pack, easy to move and easy to organize. We score Ease of Use based on four categories:
| ||
Average Functionality ScoreAccounting for 20% of the Overall Score, our luggage Functionality rating is a subjective score based on how well the suitcase fulfills our needs during testing. | 8.5 | 8.0 |
Accounting for 20% of the Overall Score, our luggage Functionality rating is a subjective score based on how well the suitcase fulfills our needs during testing. | ||
Average Water Resistance ScoreAccounting for 5% of the Overall Score, we rate Water Resistance based on materials and zippers and how highly each is rated for water resistance. | 9.1 | 8.5 |
Accounting for 5% of the Overall Score, we rate Water Resistance based on materials and zippers and how highly each is rated for water resistance. | ||
Average Brand Impact ScoreIt is important to us to recommend brands that we believe are doing good in the world. Cheap and unethical mass production of consumer goods has created innumerable problems globally, and we don’t want to be part of the problem by promoting mass-produced goods. Because of that, we rate every brand we review based on their global impact. This score accounts for 5% of the Overall Score and incorporates:
| 8.5 | 6.2 |
It is important to us to recommend brands that we believe are doing good in the world. Cheap and unethical mass production of consumer goods has created innumerable problems globally, and we don’t want to be part of the problem by promoting mass-produced goods. Because of that, we rate every brand we review based on their global impact. This score accounts for 5% of the Overall Score and incorporates:
| ||
Average Buying Experience ScoreAccounting for 5% of the Overall Score, we value companies that implement specific policies to reduce the stress and risk of buying a product. We give higher ratings to companies with free shipping and no-nonsense satisfaction policies. This score is made of the following four attributes:
| 7.4 | 8.3 |
Accounting for 5% of the Overall Score, we value companies that implement specific policies to reduce the stress and risk of buying a product. We give higher ratings to companies with free shipping and no-nonsense satisfaction policies. This score is made of the following four attributes:
| ||
Average Warranty ScoreIt’s always a good idea to buy from companies that stand behind their products with solid lifetime warranties. The Warranty score is an objective metric based on the brand’s warranty policy which accounts for 5% of the Overall Score. | 10.0 | 10.0 |
It’s always a good idea to buy from companies that stand behind their products with solid lifetime warranties. The Warranty score is an objective metric based on the brand’s warranty policy which accounts for 5% of the Overall Score. | ||
Average Price-to-Performance ScoreWe rate products based on the bang for your buck they provide. We measure that using a Cost-to-Performance ratio, which enables us to evaluate whether a higher-end product is really worth the extra cost or whether it’s better to save some cash. We calculate the Cost-to-Performance ratio by comparing the MSRP to the testing and scoring of all the previous categories. A product that performs well at a lower cost has a higher Cost-to-Performance ratio. This is an important data piece to look at if you are on a budget but still want the best quality and design possible. | 6.7 | 6.1 |
We rate products based on the bang for your buck they provide. We measure that using a Cost-to-Performance ratio, which enables us to evaluate whether a higher-end product is really worth the extra cost or whether it’s better to save some cash. We calculate the Cost-to-Performance ratio by comparing the MSRP to the testing and scoring of all the previous categories. A product that performs well at a lower cost has a higher Cost-to-Performance ratio. This is an important data piece to look at if you are on a budget but still want the best quality and design possible. | ||
| Specs | ||
| Type | Hardside | Hardside, Softside |
| Warranty | Lifetime | Lifetime |
| Returns | Pay for return shipping, 90-day | Free return shipping, 90-day |
| Manufacturing Location(s) | China | China, Taiwan, Vietnam, Indonesia, and Cambodia |
| Browse Monos | Browse Away | |
Buy Monos if you…
Buy Away if you…
Both Monos and Away specialize in building high-quality hardside suitcases with premium materials. Both brands use polycarbonate as the main material in their hardside luggage. Both use high-quality spinner wheels, zippers, and other components.
There are a lot of similarities, but there are also some key differences.
Away has more materials to choose from than Monos. In addition to their polycarbonate suitcases, they also sell aluminum luggage (which is durable but prone to dents) and softside luggage made from high-density nylon.
Away’s aluminum cases are nice, but honestly, I don’t recommend aluminum luggage unless you just really need to have the fanciest suitcase in the room. Aluminum is heavy, very expensive, and it dents easily.
Away’s softside bags, on the other hand, are definitely worth looking at. I’ll talk more about this in the next section.
Monos puts more emphasis on quality manufacturing and transparency about their process. Every company has some level of quality testing (at least they should), but I’ve rarely seen a brand make that public the way Monos does. Their quality testing is extensive (some might say torturous), and gives me more confidence in their products than Away.
In our extensive testing, Monos consistently demonstrated superior build quality. The Monos shell is stronger and more rigid, their quality testing is better, and their telescopic handle is less wobbly and is made from extruded aluminum instead of cast zinc tubes. For a complete breakdown of the material tests, component analysis, and our full scoring rubric, see the in-depth data in our complete Monos Luggage Review.
Overall, if durability is your top priority, I would stick with Monos.
Again, Monos and Away are very similar when it comes to design; both make sleek, modern spinner luggage with similar features. If you take off the logos, it’s easy to confuse which one is which.
On the outside, both brands’ suitcases are minimal and stylish. They even have very similar patterns of lines in the outer shell. The grab handles are in the same places and look almost identical. The TSA locks are similar, just in different spots. There really isn’t much that sets these suitcases apart visually.
The similarities continue on the inside. Suitcases from both brands have a zippered divider on one side with a built-in mesh pocket and a large compression panel on the other side.
So, if the designs between the two brands are so similar, how do you decide which to pick?
Away offers a wider range of options, including softside and aluminum cases. Because they now sell softside luggage, and Monos does not, I think this is probably the biggest reason to choose Away over Monos. For a detailed look at their entire product line, check out our comprehensive Away Luggage Review.
Away’s Softside Carry-On is flexible, expandable, will never crack, and has multiple external pockets (something you don’t get with hardshells).
On the other hand, the Monos Carry-On Pro is the only hardside suitcase between the two brands that has an external pocket. This external pocket hinges open and has three divided sleeves and three zippered pockets. This design is awesome for keeping all your essentials organized and easy to access.
I also think Monos just does a better job with the details of their designs.
For example, both brands use elastic compression straps, but the Monos straps are thicker, wider, more secure, and easier to use; they’re a huge upgrade over the typical flimsy elastic straps you find on most suitcases.
Monos also redesigned their telescopic handle from the ground up. The Monos luggage handle has been redesigned to be stronger and more stable. It uses high-quality aluminum components, adjusts to four different heights, is very stable, and has the button on the underside, which makes it intuitive to use and gives the suitcase a clean look. You can read more about its performance in our full Monos Luggage Review.
Away’s bags just have a standard off-the-shelf luggage handle that’s functional, but not quite as good. It wobbles more and only has two adjustment points.
When comparing such similar products, it’s really the little details that make all the difference, and Monos wins in the details.
This one is simple: Monos is of equal or better quality to Away, but it is also less expensive across the board. If you want to get the best bang for your buck, go with Monos.
I’ll leave it at that.
Away is known for having great customer service and a generous return policy, so they’re the winner here. Away scored 8.3 for Buying Experience, while Monos only scored 7.4.
Both brands have a 100-day return policy, but Monos charges $40 for return shipping, while Away covers everything and provides you a pre-paid shipping label for returns.
Since you’ll most likely be buying these products online, that better return policy really matters. It gives you more freedom to really try out the suitcase in person to see if you like it without having to worry about coughing up 40 bucks for a return.
This is something I really wish Monos would change, so good job, Away, for actually offering free returns.
Both Monos and Away offer solid lifetime warranties on all their luggage. I appreciate when brands stand behind their products, and you can’t go wrong here.
If you care about buying sustainable products, Monos is definitely the better choice. Monos scored an impressive 8.5 for Brand Impact compared to Away’s 6.2.
Monos uses a 100% recycled inner fabric, Away doesn’t. Even Monos’ polycarbonate hard shells are made of partially recycled materials, something that’s rare for hardside luggage.
Monos is Climate Neutral Certified (the first luggage brand to earn this distinction), which means they have to follow very strict requirements for measuring and offsetting their carbon emissions.
Monos is also a member of 1% for the Planet. Every year they donate 1% of their revenue (not just profit) to environmental nonprofits. So far the brand has donated nearly $2 million.
It’s easy to talk when it comes to impact and sustainability, but reputable third-party certifications like Climate Neutral and 1% for the Planet require concrete, verifiable action.
Away is starting to take steps toward sustainability, but their products and business practices just don’t measure up to Monos. They have no third-party-verified initiatives, and they don’t use many recycled materials.
You’ve probably gotten the idea by now that I strongly prefer Monos over Away.
Don’t get me wrong, Away makes great suitcases. They are durable, functional, and they look amazing. It’s just that Monos luggage is just as good (if not better) and costs less. Why would I spend more for a product that isn’t any better?
Monos luggage offers some of the best bang for your buck that you can get on high-quality polycarbonate suitcases, and that’s exactly why they are the number one brand we recommend. Plus, Monos is Climate Neutral Certified, a member of 1% for the Planet, and uses recycled materials. It’s a win-win.
You can’t go wrong either way, but for me, Monos is the easy choice.
Away suitcases are stylish, functional, and durable, but Monos suitcases are just as good and cost less.
Yes, Monos luggage comes with a great lifetime warranty.
The Monos Carry-On will fit in the overhead bin on most flights, but it may be too large for some budget international airlines.
Yes, Away luggage uses high-quality YKK zippers.
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