Over the previous 10 years, the bags market has boomed with startup manufacturers promoting stylish, 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 fashionable and on-trend, however in addition they embody a shocking array of modern 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 comparable: they each promote high-quality polycarbonate baggage. However once you dig underneath the floor, there are undoubtedly some essential variations.
I’ll stroll you thru these variations and allow you to determine which model has the precise suitcase for you.
Béis Overview
Actress Shay Mitchell based Béis in 2018 when she noticed a niche out there for sensible but modern baggage and jumped on the alternative to fill it. She wished to create merchandise that not solely work, however are additionally a pleasure to make use of.
Béis focuses on each model and practicality, and also you’ll see that mirrored of their designs. Béis suitcases look wonderful, however they’re additionally loaded with sensible little options that will appear gimmicky at first look, aside from the truth that they work.
Béis can be barely cheaper than Monos. In truth, if you happen to’re in search of an on-trend suitcase that’s made with polycarbonate and sturdy parts, Béis is without doubt one of the most reasonably priced choices on the market.
Béis Supplies & High quality
Béis makes use of polycarbonate exhausting 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.
Probably the most spectacular factor about Béis is that they’re capable of provide full polycarbonate suitcases at a lower cost than most of their opponents.
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 water resistant, the spinner wheels are smooth-rolling and durable.
But, whereas Béis does a stable job at high quality management, they’ll’t fairly compete with the rigorous testing that Monos does to their suitcases. For instance, Béis makes use of glue to connect their seize handles, whereas Monos makes use of sturdy screws. Don’t get me fallacious, Béis baggage is a lot sturdy; it’s simply not fairly as robust as Monos.
One other draw back is that Béis hasn’t carried out a lot towards utilizing sustainable supplies of their merchandise. They don’t use recycled supplies or offset their emissions. If sustainability is essential to you, Monos is approach forward.
Regardless of these factors, Béis nonetheless gives a compelling alternative with their restricted lifetime guarantee—a promise that they consider within the longevity of their merchandise. It’s not all about being the hardest on the block; it’s additionally about belief and repair.
Béis Design and Options
First off, Béis baggage appears wonderful. The stylish design and large choice of enjoyable colours are excellent for expressing just a little persona whilst you journey. I do know that isn’t an important factor for everybody, however I’ve discovered that if I like how my journey gear appears, I get pleasure from utilizing it extra and really feel higher whereas touring.
The design goes past appears although. Béis has the whole lot you’d anticipate in a sensible trendy suitcase: inside dividers and compression straps to maintain your garments in place, TSA locks, 360-degree spinner wheels, and inside pockets for smaller gadgets.
All of those options are nice to have, however none of them are distinctive. Nevertheless, Béis baggage does have a couple of small particulars that I haven’t seen anyplace else.
First off, the seize handles on each Béis suitcase have a built-in weight indicator. Basically, in case your bag is over 50 lbs, just a little plastic window within the deal with will present up crimson. In fact, this solely works in case your airline’s weight restrict is 50 lbs, but it surely’s an excellent sanity test to have.
Béis baggage additionally comes with a small retractable bag strap. You possibly can pull this little strap out from the highest of the suitcase and loop it by way of the deal with of your private merchandise bag. That approach, you’ll be able to wheel the whole lot round collectively in a single easy-to-manage package deal.
I’m very impressed with the design of Béis baggage total. It hits simply the precise steadiness between performance and ease.
Béis Baggage Execs and Cons
Béis is a go-to for if you need your journey gear to make an announcement with out breaking the financial institution. Béis baggage is well-designed and well-made.
Nevertheless, it isn’t excellent. The construct high quality is nice, but it surely’s not as spectacular as you’d get by paying just a bit bit extra for a Monos suitcase.
- Extra reasonably priced than Monos
- Contains helpful antimicrobial laundry baggage
- Options trendy laptop computer sleeves
- Comes with built-in weight indicators
- Presents high-end fashions at nice costs
- Sturdiness issues with glue-attached straps
- Restricted capability for heavy baggage
- Lacks eco-friendly supplies in design
Monos Overview
In 2018, three childhood mates in Vancouver launched Monos. Their objective was to construct luxury-quality hardshell suitcases at a extra attainable worth. Their suitcases nonetheless aren’t low cost, however they’ve a powerful high quality degree for the value.
Monos baggage is designed by vacationers, for vacationers. Their objective is to create useful, minimalist suitcases that do precisely what you want them to so you’ll be able to concentrate on the experiences of your journey.
Monos impressed me additional by reaching Local weather Impartial Certification and being a part of the 1% for the Planet motion. As local weather change and international habitat destruction have gotten extra salient points, it’s essential to me to make use of and suggest manufacturers which might be decreasing their affect. Monos is without doubt one of the greatest baggage manufacturers on the market in that regard.
Monos actually tunes into what at the moment’s vacationers are after, placing a steadiness between sturdy suitcases, glossy appears, and inexperienced practices. Nonetheless, whereas they goal excessive with their beliefs, they fall considerably brief by way of thrilling extras.
Monos Supplies & High quality
Monos builds their suitcases to final, and that design intent reveals in each element. They supply high-quality supplies and parts and work with vetted factories to fabricate the perfect product for the value.
They put every suitcase by way of a gauntlet of exams, together with a deal with jerk take a look at, wheel abrasion take a look at, drop exams, and extra. These exams simulate real-world abuse. When you’re curious, I extremely suggest trying out their high quality testing. Only a few baggage producers go to such extremes to make suitcases that received’t break.
The outer shell is constituted of German Makrolon polycarbonate, which is presumably the perfect materials presently obtainable for exhausting facet baggage. That is just like the polycarbonate utilized by Béis besides that it comes immediately from Bayer, the German firm that invented polycarbonate within the first place.
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. Luckily, our information for the best way to clear baggage has ideas for the best way to take away these scuffs.
Many baggage manufacturers purchase handles and wheels from third-party suppliers, so that you’ll see the identical parts used throughout many alternative manufacturers. Monos couldn’t discover a telescoping deal with or spinner wheels that lived as much as their requirements, in order that they designed and constructed their very own from the bottom up.
The telescoping handles are constituted of extruded aluminum relatively than the usual solid zinc tubes. This makes them stronger and stiffer. In addition they offset the 2 telescoping sections 45 levels in both path. This makes them rather more secure than customary baggage handles.
Monos’ new wheels are a few of the greatest I’ve ever examined. They’re {smooth}, straightforward to maneuver, and really sturdy. They really feel considerably beefier than the wheels on Béis baggage.
In contrast to Béis, Monos’ heavy-duty seize handles are secured to the suitcase with screws as a substitute of glue. These particulars may appear minor at first look, however they point out a philosophy that values modern design as a lot as sustainability.
Monos Design & Options
The design language of Monos baggage is glossy and minimalist. It’s exhausting to not love the look of a Monos suitcase, particularly as a result of they arrive in a variety of colours. In the case of model, Monos and Béis are each stylish, trendy, and on-trend. It’ll finally come down to private choice.
The minimalist strategy extends to the main points and inside of Monos suitcases as effectively.
Inside, there’s a zippered divider with a giant mesh pocket on one facet and a giant compression panel with a couple of extra pockets and beefy straps on the opposite. The Monos compression straps are thick and have large chunky buckles. They work approach higher than the flimsier straps on Béis suitcases (or just about some other baggage, for that matter).
I additionally actually favored the telescopic deal with design. It’s contoured and comfy to carry, and the discharge button is on the underside facet. This makes far more sense as a result of that’s the place your fingers go naturally.
When you’re touring with a laptop computer or pill, the Monos Carry-On Professional is without doubt one of the greatest suitcases on the market. It has an exterior zippered pocket with a laptop computer sleeve and some smaller compartments for gadgets you need fast entry to. That’s one thing you received’t get in a Béis suitcase.
One factor you received’t get with Monos is an enlargement zipper. No Monos suitcases have the choice to broaden, and that does make them a bit much less versatile. If that’s an essential function for you, Béis might be a greater choice.
Monos additionally doesn’t have all of the nifty options that Béis baggage delivers just like the built-in weight indicator and the retracting bag strap.
Monos Luggage Execs and Cons
Monos stands out for its dedication to sustainability and a minimalist design. Their use of eco-friendly supplies and glossy aesthetics in every Monos suitcase and Monos carry-on bag appeals to eco-conscious and style-savvy vacationers alike.
In comparison with Béis, Monos gives fewer bells and whistles, focusing as a substitute on doing the fundamentals rather well.
- Robust concentrate on sustainability.
- Makes use of sturdy, eco-friendly supplies.
- Glossy, minimalist design.
- Presents a lifetime guarantee.
- Options ergonomic handles and silent wheels.
- Increased worth level than Béis.
- Fewer modern options.
- Restricted vary of designs and colours.
- Not as many organizational compartments.
- Could possibly be too easy for tech-lovers.
Béis vs Monos: Which Ought to You Purchase?
Now you’ve received the fundamentals of each manufacturers. When you’re nonetheless undecided what to select, listed below are a couple of factors that will help you determine.
Design and Options
Béis baggage brings a novel aptitude to the journey gear market, combining performance with an elegant aesthetic that stands out at baggage declare. Béis has a couple of extra modern options that you simply received’t see in some other suitcase.
Monos, then again, opts for a minimalist strategy that appeals to those that want glossy, uncomplicated designs. Their suitcases are marked by clear traces and a refined look.
Monos doesn’t have any loopy distinctive options, however each little element is well-thought-out and works flawlessly.
Sturdiness
If sturdiness is your primary precedence, Monos is the way in which to go. Monos baggage makes use of sturdier parts and goes by way of rather more rigorous high quality testing. Monos additionally has a barely higher guarantee.
That mentioned, Béis baggage remains to be well-built and may nonetheless final for years of journey for most individuals.
Sustainability
Monos is without doubt one of the greatest baggage manufacturers on the market relating to sustainability. They’re a member of 1% for the Planet and are Local weather Impartial Licensed. They use recycled supplies, renewable power, and sturdy parts which might be designed to remain out of the landfill.
Béis can’t sustain right here, so if sustainability is essential to you, select Monos.
Worth
Béis baggage gives unbelievable bang on your buck. You may get a glossy, high-quality polycarbonate suitcase for a lower cost.
Given the similarity between the 2 manufacturers, it’s fairly spectacular that Béis managed to construct such a aggressive product at this worth.
Béis Baggage Evaluate and Monos Baggage Evaluate FAQs
What supplies are Béis and Monos baggage constituted of?
Do Béis or Monos suitcases provide guarantee or returns?
How do the designs of Béis and Monos baggage evaluate?
Are there any distinctive options in Béis or Monos baggage?
Monos baggage contains a extra sturdy and thicker shell, high quality compression panels, and contains washable baggage. Béis baggage is expandable, has a padded deal with, and gives extra colour selections.
Jeremy Scott Foster
Jeremy Scott Foster is an adventure-junkie, gear skilled and journey photographer based mostly in Southern California. Beforehand nomadic, he’s been to ~50 international locations and loves spending time outside. You possibly can normally discover him on the path, on the highway, leaping from bridges or hustling on his laptop computer working to supply the perfect journey and outside content material at the moment.
