THE GEN X WANDERER / Is Monos Luggage Good? A Minimalist’s Honest Review

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Why Monos Became My Go-To Gear for Minimalist Travel

Let me be clear and transparent upfront, this is not a sponsored post, I purchased all items in this post with my hard earned cash.

As a family of 4, with a adult teen and a 10 year old, we used to be the people standing at the airport carousel, staring at six identical green roller bags, wondering which one was ours.

Somewhere between our third mystery scuff mark and second broken zipper not to mention the trolly handle missing a screw, I decided I was done buying discount luggage. After seeing a gazillion ads on Instagram, I decided to go down the rabbit hole of reviews on YouTube. I am welcoming myself to the club of Monos, after making the splurge to buy 2 of their luggages: the Monos Carry-On and the Monos Check-In Medium with 2 Luggage Covers.

If you’ve landed here because you typed that same question into Google that I once did, I get it. There’s a lot of polished marketing copy out there, and not a lot of people just telling you what it’s actually like to live with these bags. So here’s my honest take.

>> If you haven’t already, be sure to check out my article: What to Pack for a Cruise: The Ultimate Checklist for Solo/Couples/Families, with a free downloadable packing guide!

Why I Went Looking for Minimalist Luggage in the First Place

I’m not a maximalist by any means, much less a packer, and my luggage never wanted to be either. I wanted something that didn’t scream for attention with logos, buckles, and busy exterior pockets. I personally hate all that fluff and tchotchkes. I wanted a bag that looked like it belonged in a design studio, not a bargain bin.

That’s the whole appeal of minimalist travel gear to me, fewer distractions, fewer things to break, fewer decisions to make when I’m already stressed about making my flight and actually being on a flight (that’s another story). I blame it on my anxiety and OCD. Really.

When I started researching whether Monos luggage was good enough to justify the price tag, what kept coming up was the design language. As a graphic designer for the past 3 decades, I’ve gone through it all in terms of design trends. I’ve always been all about clean lines and modern design. I love that’s there’s no visible branding plastered across the front and everything is just… simple.

My OCD is so bad, look, I made a video of it in classic Joe Goldberg narration style.

The Two Pieces I Bought: Carry-On and Check-In Medium

I didn’t buy the whole lineup because then I would have had to sell my house.

I bought exactly what fit how I actually travel: the carry-0n for short trips and the check-in medium for everything longer. But why specifically these 2? Because there are many types in the same category right. Yes, it took me awhile to understand what the carry-on, then the plus, then the pro, then the pro plus, my head was spinning a little and I almost had to create a spreadsheet.

But here’s my thought process on why: I was originally contemplating on getting the check-in pro simply because I could add my laptop in the front pocket, but many reviews said that this space just eats up the internal real estate. So I reconsidered.

Plus, what if I was forced to check-in my carry-on? (I’ve been on many flights where they make you do this at the gate due to an oversold flight 🙄). Then that means I would need to carry my laptop by hand until my destination? No thanks. Plus I was also debating the expandable check-in but because I wanted to get a luggage cover, this model didn’t have the option to come with one. Because the luggage cover itself cannot expand. More on luggage covers down below.

The Monos Carry-On
22″ x 14″ x 9″ / 7.01 lbs / 2-5 trip days
This design lines up with the standard cabin-size allowance most U.S. airlines use. It’s built from a hard polycarbonate shell, so it shrugs off the kind of bumps that used to leave dents in my old soft-sided bag. The telescoping handle has four height settings, which sounds minor until you’re the shortest person trying to wheel a bag built for someone six inches taller. I’m 5 foot.

The Medium Check-In
26.5″ x 18.5″ x 10.5″ / 9.59 lbs / 7-18 trip days
The bigger sibling, weighs in empty at under 10 pounds. That weight matters more than people expect – an empty bag that’s already heavy eats into your airline weight limit before you’ve packed a single shirt. This is the piece I reach for when I’m gone longer than a long weekend, or when I’m packing for two (sometimes I add my little guy’s stuff with mine).

Both bags nest together, so when I’m not traveling, the carry-on slides right inside the medium check-in for storage. Small detail, but it’s exactly the kind of thoughtful, no-clutter design that makes me keep coming back to the brand.

Should you get the Luggage Cover?

A hell YES.

See my photo? This was the first time ever that I used my suitcase from Toronto to Fort Lauderdale, and it looked like it’s been through the war. It actually looks much worse in person.

I was so disappointed I wanted to cry (yes I know first world problems), but thank goodness for the Monos Luggage Cover. I tried washing the luggage cover, but it was kind of difficult, so guess what, I got a washable one off Temu for both suitcases later.

So, Is Monos Luggage Good? Here’s My Honest Answer

After using both bags across multiple trips, my answer to “is Monos luggage good”, that’s a yes.

What I absolutely love ❤️:

• The design is genuinely minimal. No loud branding, no clashing hardware, just a clean shell and understated color options. It’s the kind of luggage that looks intentional, not disposable. Have you see my Joe Goldberg rendition up above?
• It’s lighter than it looks. Both pieces are noticeably easier to lift into an overhead bin than the bags I used to own.
• It rolls smoothly. The spinner wheels move in any direction without the wobble I got used to tolerating from cheaper bags.
• It nests for storage. As someone with limited real estate in her home, being able to stack the carry-on inside the medium check-in is a small win that matters more than I expected.

Some Things Worth Mentioning:

• Having owned dark luggage most of my life, I wanted something new and lighter, so I got the Blue Haze for both pieces. If you’re picking a shade, darker colours hide wear and tear better than the lighter, ones. I don’t regret my decision to go lighter, but if you do, make sure to get a luggage cover.
• It’s not the cheapest option out there. You’re paying for the design and materials, and if budget is your only concern, there are less expensive alternatives.
• It comes with a white scuff sponge (like the Magic Eraser) that can help you scuff off marks.

Is Monos Luggage Good for Minimalists Specifically?

This is really the question that matters most to me. Minimalist travel isn’t really about owning less luggage or packing lighter – it’s about owning luggage that doesn’t demand your attention. A bag with a hundred pockets and straps invites you to overthink your packing. A bag with a clean interior and a couple of well-placed compression straps just asks you to pack what matters the most and close the lid.

That’s where Monos earns its keep for me. The interior of both bags is simple: one main compartment, a mesh divider, and compression straps that actually do their job instead of being decorative. There’s no maze of zippered pouches competing for your attention, and no confusing layout to relearn every time I pack. That internal simplicity is the deciding factor for me, not just the exterior look.

I’ve also noticed that owning minimalist gear changes how I pack, not just what I carry it in. When the bag itself isn’t offering twelve compartments to fill, you naturally start packing with more intention. I bring fewer “just in case” items because there’s nowhere convenient to stash them. The carry-on in particular has become a kind of built-in packing discipline – if it doesn’t fit in one main compartment with the compression straps buckled, it doesn’t come with me. That’s a small mental shift, but it’s made a real difference in how much lighter and calmer my trips feel, from the moment I zip the bag shut to the moment I’m walking through security without breaking a sweat.

But also packing cubes are a necessity.

A Quick Word on Durability

Since durability is usually the next question people ask once they’ve decided the design works for them: both of my bags are made from a polycarbonate shell that’s held up well against the usual airport abuse – rough baggage handlers (did you see my photo above?), curbside drops, being wedged into overhead bins by strangers who don’t care about your suitcase the way you do. I haven’t dealt with cracks or broken wheels on either piece. The main wear I’ve seen is cosmetic scuffing on the shell, which is more noticeable on lighter colours. If durability is your primary concern, it’s worth choosing a darker finish so the inevitable scuffs blend in rather than stand out.

My Final Thoughts

Besides being a Canadian brand (which is great), and if you are on the fence, they have several retail locations in Canada and US for you to browse, shop and test out their product line-up in person.

If you’re weighing whether Monos luggage is good enough to be your next suitcase, I’d say it earns the reputation, at least based on my two pieces. The Monos carry-on handles anything under a week away, the check-in medium covers longer trips or two people packing light, and both bags reflect the kind of restrained, considered design that minimalist travellers actually want. It’s not flawless, and it’s not the cheapest choice on the shelf, but for anyone tired of luggage that looks disposable and feels the same way, it’s worth the investment.

At the end of the day, the question “is Monos luggage good” comes down to what you value in a suitcase. If that’s clean design, decent build quality, and a bag you’re not embarrassed to be seen with at baggage claim, then for me, the answer is a confident yes.