Monos vs Away
Let’s ask ourselves honestly: when was the last time the family luggage was updated? In most households, there are the cheap deals bought at the last minute before a big trip. We’ll come straight out and say it: that’s not sustainable.
Rather than focusing on price and deals, turn your attention to the features that a single piece of luggage can offer. From sustainably sourced materials to better packaging methods and locks, luggage manufacturers have been overhauling the format of standard luggage.
While there are a variety of companies to choose from, this Monos vs Away review focuses on two of 2021’s top contenders when it comes to travel bags.
We may not all be able to take the trips we hoped for just yet, but there’s nothing like preparing for your next vacation to take the stress off when the time comes!
About Monos
Monos is a brand that focuses on simplicity and wants its pieces to outlast the fashions and trends that accompany travel. With meticulous craftsmanship and timeless design, Monos is able to keep its prices lower than the competition, making it an affordable option made from durable materials.
While the company has a limited range, it has a central style that is used for each bag category and focuses on the options that each bag offers the customer, be it lightweight or hard-sided. In addition to bags, the brand has now extended its “deep appreciation for the beauty of fleeting moments” to accessories and clothing.
About Away
Away was founded with the goal of making a positive impact on the world around them. By partnering with various social organizations that deal with hunger, shelter, sexuality and much more, this brand is instrumental in creating a better society for all.
In terms of products, the brand leaves no stone unturned to offer a durable range of luggage and accessories with options for hard and soft-sided luggage. With a focus on sustainable sourcing and affordable costs, this brand is the first choice when it comes to traveling the world in a safe and smart way.
What to Consider
Before you decide to buy straight from this Monos vs Away review, you should look at the bigger picture. While both brands boast simplicity and manageable costs, there’s more to luggage than just those two elements. So what should you look for when you head to the checkout, and how do the different brands score on each factor?
Product range
Monos’ product line actually consists of just 20 different products. Within this selection, the categories are divided into clothing, accessories, check-in and hand luggage.
Away has expanded beyond the original range of luggage, but still focuses exclusively on the travel industry. This means a collection of almost 20 travel bags and another inventory of over 20 accessories for comfortable and casual travel.
Target audience
We have to say that these two brands are really aimed at the same market – travelers who want to save money without sacrificing the quality of luggage or travel accessories.
Materials and durability
When it comes to Monos, durability is key to their design, and they only offer polycarbonate hard shells. In addition to this sturdy material, this brand has reworked the typical handle and angle for luggage handles to ensure a smooth grip while moving through the streets.
Away comes to market with a rugged design that offers a few more details in the outer shell than the simplistic pieces from Monos. Away’s soft and hard shell options are designed to withstand the standard pressures and bumps of traveling, keeping all items inside safe even in the worst turbulence.
Sustainability
Both brands are committed to producing high quality products that will stand the test of time and travel to avoid further waste production. In addition, both Monos and Away work with recyclable materials to reduce the impact of manufacturing when sourcing fabrics and plastics.
Accessibility
The prices for both brands are reasonable as they reduce costs by taking the middleman out of the process. For example, Away’s products are only available through the brand’s website, awaytravel.com, while Monos can be found on both monos.com and through Nordstrom.
These two brands share some similarities when it comes to the most important aspects to keep in mind when shopping. It can be difficult to decide between brands that offer similar features and price points, so let’s turn this Monos vs Away review into more specific products to see how things shake out when it comes to the details.
Also read our Monos in-depth review here!
Monos vs Away: Quality
Every bag needs a quality check before it goes to the checkout. We say that neither of these options will disappoint when it comes to testing their quality. With rave reviews and joint sourcing of German and Japanese materials for their polycarbonate cases, these brands run pretty parallel.
Monos is pretty transparent when it comes to materials, durability and design. The big move by this brand was to redesign the handle and switch the standard zinc tube to high-quality aluminum for a stronger grip on the angles and movement. As well as relocating the knob for a more natural grip and better function, it was also made clear that the handles are the company’s pride and joy.
As for the rest of the body, the polycarbonate shells promise not to damage the interior and the wheels are from a Japanese manufacturer known for the quietness of its movements.
Rounding off the quality case upgrade is the inner lining, which is not only soft and waterproof, but also contains anti-microbial properties to keep things clean and hygienic after hours of traveling.
Like Away, this brand is all about top quality at a low cost. Utilizing many of the same techniques as Monos, these heavy nylon and polycarbonate shells keep things in check and provide solid rebound protection against anything that might come in contact with the case.
This brand eschews fancy customization and sticks to simple, high-quality materials. They’re known for standing up to pressure and constant use, and while their insoles aren’t antimicrobial, they’re incredibly soft and helpful with laundry separation.
When it comes down to it, we have to go with monos in this case, as they offer a more self-contained approach to the standard suitcase. However, Away is known for its top quality, so they definitely don’t lack in the strength and survival departments.
Monos vs Away: Price & Value
Considering that both brands are all about affordability, we had to take a look at price and value in this Monos vs Away review to see how they really perform. Since both use similar materials and designs (we love sleek brands that have a timeless, minimalist look), it’s not too surprising that the prices are actually in a similar range.
We have to say that the two brands seem to go back and forth. While some products (like the travel bag and carry-on) are cheaper at Away, other products, like the Medium Checked Luggage, are priced slightly higher at Away than Monos.
Rather than simply saying that this product is better than that one, we’ll do some quick price comparisons to give readers a brief idea of what we’re talking about:
- Hand Luggage
- Monos – $225 (regularly $280)
- Away – $225
- Medium Checked Luggage
- Monos – $290 (regularly $363)
- Away – $395
- Large Checked Luggage
- Monos – $320 (regularly $400)
- Away – $425
- Duffle Bag
- Monos – $205
- Away – $165
What we need to note here is that at the time of writing this Monos vs Away review, there are more deals popping up for Monos that are reducing prices to equal or less value than their Away counterparts. We have to keep in mind that these prices aren’t always this low, but it’s nice to see how far they fall.
Since both brands are pretty equal in terms of value, durability, quality and design, it’s hard to decide whose side you’re on when it comes to cost. Even the prices for larger items are only between 20 and 40 dollars.
That’s obviously a difference, but we have to keep in mind that any larger Away case that costs more also includes a portable USB charger as an added value.
So in this case, we’re even. Both have their advantages and the prices and value are really the same.
Monos vs Away: What Do Customers Think?
We are just as interested as you are in finding out what these brands have to offer. To continue our research, we turned to the rating systems available on the internet to see how these companies perform.
We’ll start with Monos, and we have to say that it’s already looking good. On their own website, there are 4.9/5 stars based on almost 3,000 customer reviews.
We have to admit that this brand doesn’t have a lot of stars, but the coverage from Business Insider, Rolling Stone, Expert World Traveler and others speaks to the popularity of these products.
Customers are thrilled with the solid craftsmanship and quality of these pieces, especially when it comes to the detailed designs with zippers, pockets and more.
Speaking of bags: The many slots and compartments built into these bags are a major highlight for users, as they provide easy packing for any last-minute trip.
Don’t take our word for it though – read some of the best reviews:
- “Sturdy and reliable, sleek looks, significantly more storage space in the Pro Plus, a clever front pocket that doesn’t stick out when packing in either version.”
- “Unbelievable how many zippered compartments there are for different things. Everything is of high quality.”
- “Feels very high quality, with lots of little details that make the design seem very well thought out, and lots of attention to detail.”
As for Away, this brand has garnered a lot of attention on social media among millennials.
The New York Times, Insider, Business Insider, CNN and others have reported on this brand. While there is no overall rating for the site, the most popular pieces have 4.9/5 stars based on over 3,200 reviews (for the Carry-On) and 4.9/5 stars based on over 1,260 reviews (for The Medium).
TrustPilot is slightly lower at 3.7/5 stars based on over 530 reviews, but the numbers speak for themselves when it comes to the high number of stars for individual products.
The answer to the question of what customers love is simple: quality. From the handle to the wheels to the solid shell, this bag is all about solid construction and quality use. In addition, the storage space, lining and multiple pockets have made this brand a household name for travelers.
- “Solid, well constructed and high quality and a stylish feel I get from using it. From the interior organizational elements that simplify packing to the exterior components that make all the difference when using it.”
- “It fits so much more than I thought it would, and it’s just so darn cute! I’ve gotten compliments on it everywhere, and that made me so happy!”
- “I fit so much in it and packed it the way they showed it. The rolls are great, the quality is fantastic! I love the availability of the battery!!! I love my bag and can’t wait to get the whole set.”
We have to say that both brands received excellent reviews. It’s hard to pick just one brand based on equal customer reviews. Away seems to have more reviews, but the brand has been around since 2015, while Monos only launched in 2019.
Monos vs Away: Promotions & Discounts
As mentioned above, at the time of writing this Monos vs Away review, Monos is offering a number of discounts on their products for pre-sales and limited orders.
That’s not to say that Away doesn’t offer similar deals throughout the year, as they are known to have vacation and seasonal sales, but for now, Monos has the edge when it comes to discounts and vacation deals.
Monos vs Away: Shipping & Returns
Well, no one wants to make a purchase without the final dirty details – shipping and returns. So let’s take a look at what these brands have to offer.
When it comes to shipping at Monos, this brand can be summarized in a few short points:
- Products are shipped to the US and Canada
- Delivery time is between 7 and 9 days
- Ground shipping is free (express shipping costs depend on location)
That’s pretty much all there is in terms of shipping information. As for returns, every product purchased has a 100-day return policy with a full refund. All customers need to do is send a quick email to customer service to initiate a return.
It should be noted that all returned products must be unused to be accepted for a refund. If there is the slightest sign of use, they are non-refundable.
As for Away, this company has done a little more for its shipping policy due to its four-year presence in the market. When it comes to orders and delivery:
- Products ship in Canada, the US and Europe
- Free ground shipping on all orders to Canada and the US
- There are two levels of expedited shipping with flat fees depending on the product
- Expedited Bags – $35
- Second Level Bags – $50
- Expedited Accessories – $15
- Second Level Accessories – $20
- Ground shipping is available within 1 to 5 days
In addition to shipping features, Away also offers an enhanced return policy. The process starts with the online contact form in a few simple clicks and every purchase has a 100-day trial period. The highlight is that any product can be returned. This brand wants customers to go out, travel and really try the product before deciding if it’s worth it.
Based on the return policy alone, this Monos vs Away test would favor Away in this case. Aside from the added restriction of what can be returned for a full refund, we have to appreciate the encouragement to try out luggage. Then when you factor in international shipping and expedited shipping options, there’s no going back.
Who Will You Shop With?
When it comes to the final purchase, it’s always a difficult decision to make. We’d like to say it comes down to price, features or quality, but the fact is that these brands are pretty much the same in many of their key elements. Honestly, you can’t go wrong with any of these premium choices.
