Please use our links to support our channel: July Trunk: julyus.pxf.io/ZQZ2xR Monos Hybrid: shrsl.com/4gh72 Which one do you prefer? Let’s talk about it below!
monos all the way, smaller for international travel, more space not taken up by the battery and wheel well, vegan leather over real leather, color-matching aluminum and also I like the latching mechanism more
I like the Monos because it meets the international carry on requirement, weighs less and is cheaper. Also, I think it looks more aesthically pleasing than the July trunk.
I hope you know how helpful and excellent your in depth reviews and comparisons are. The most comprehensive I've seen. Keep up the great work and thank you.
Hands down the best luggage review I have ever seen! Thank you for showing real world situations. I have and do own the July checked plus, checked trunk and their carry on. My issue with July is that the checked suitcases shell keep cracking around the wheels. The handle mounts of the first one broke as well. However, July has absolutely phenomenal customer support and backs their products. They have the best customer support I have ever dealt with. Each time they were extremely responsive and had me a new suitcase in just a few days. They have replaced the checked plus twice. Then, I paid to upgrade the second replacement to the trunk in hopes it wouldn't crack like the other two. Then the shell of the trunk started cracking around the wheel mounts as well. I didn't do a warranty replacement because the airline totaled the bag on my last trip before I had a chance to do a warranty claim again. They did far more damage than just the cracked shell. Someone had to have slammed it pretty hard. It wouldn't have been right of me to claim it with the airline and then warranty as well. I think I like the Plus better though. On the trunk, I don't like the one side that uses clips instead of a zipper for the divider. Some people might like that if they over pack though. It just doesn't work for me. I am considering going to the Monos trunk. It is a difficult decision because July really does back their products so well. I just wish they would do better reinforcing around the wheel mounts. Anywho! Thanks for doing such a wonderful review!
@@tisa7997No worries at all! I actually ended up getting the Voyageur Check-In luggage from Level 8. I absolutely love it! The wheels are 10x better than the ones from July. Sometimes... They actually roll too good! Hahaha I was unsure about the wife handle because it won't go through the back loops on some bags. However, the top surface area is so large and it rolls so smooth that nothing falls off. Anywho glad my info helped!
I have the monos carry on plus and fell in love with it more on my current trip where I overpacked and still got it to close. The amount of flex in the polycarbonate shell combined with the compression is amazing. Not to mention, monos looks way more lux than July’s trunk imo. While I do like July’s light carry on options, monos wins in the hybrid category for me hands down
Airline person here-we allow batteries in cabin not left in bags for overhead. because a fire in the overhead takes longer to spot and cause more damage-and the damage caused are significant. I want to see the Monos compared to the Level 8!
I just took my level 8 voyageur set on a cruise. The larger one is trunk style but still zippered. Meaning one side is much deeper than the other. We could not believe how easy it was to roll. My husband took both of them out of the car, and they almost started rolling away from him in the parking lot. That's how fantastic they roll. Hands down the best wheels i've ever had. And although the wider handle doesn't work on my personal item, It made up for it in the ease of pushing it. I bought this on recommendation from you and it did not disappoint. Now I am looking for a zipperless option. So thank you for this review.
I have the Monos and love it. So far, no scratches and I'm not the only one using it for travel. If I didn't already have the Monos, I still would buy it. The July is lovely but the price is too steep for a few extra inches of space. Thanks for the comparison. Great job!
Thank you so much for this!! I wish this video was available before I made my purchase, but I don’t think it would have really changed my decision. I have the Monos Carry-on and Check-in Medium. I went with Monos for a few reasons: 1. Price - this made a large reason as to why I picked Monos. They were significantly more affordable and shipping was cheaper for me. July’s shipping price to me was just too much. 2. Compartments - I like the zipper side in the Monos over the hook side of the July. I liked the idea of one side being completely closed off in case of any loose items I may have that could spill out if for some reason it opened unexpectedly. 3. Battery - I don’t prefer the battery included with the luggage. I think it takes up valuable space. And I prefer to carry my battery in my personal item anyways so I can access it anytime on a flight. 4. Size - I don’t mind the monos being smaller since I feel that forces me to not overpack which I can easily do. So it holds me accountable. Also I’m not as worried about size restrictions with my monos. 5. Telescoping handle - I don’t need 20 settings for the handle height. I’m short anyways. Plus the smaller width of it makes it easy to slide my personal item onto it. And it’s very sturdy!
I recently purchased the Monos Hybrid carryon also in champagne. It’s beautiful and haven’t traveled with it yet. Traveling to the Paris Olympics this summer and hoping this will be my only piece of luggage🤞.
I was planning on buying either cases because I was intrigued with the zipper less. However I do tend to over pack and you have helped to decide to go with the expendables😅
Great review. Both cases are great and I would love to have either one of them. It is a tough call, it is difficult to decide between them. One thing I appreciate about both is the "no zippers to break into for a suitcase contents thief" feature. The overpacking scenario, although dramatic, was very realistic of what happens to people coming home from vacation with unintended purchases. It seems like suitcases are tending to go retro in design these days with hard sided and no zipper trunks. For many years it was all about the soft-sided fabric and light weight features. These remind me of the suitcases of old before the Travelpro wheelie bag was invented. I wonder where we will be in 5 years in terms of luggage? Thanks Lauren for another comprehensive review.
Very dramatic, but only added 2 sweaters! Compared to everything I bought on my last trip… I’m not sure if I would have been able to overpack had I brought one of the trunks! I would have been in trouble! It is interesting, indeed. I have 3 more trunks waiting at home for me to review, too. I want the trend to be light luggage, like July’s lite. For this trip I’m on now, there was a weight limit and 90% of my bags couldn’t be used
I appreciate you creating this content! It’s so helpful for deciding between these two great pieces of luggage. It made my decision a lot easier. I also appreciate how you explained everything in detail and even showed how each one looks when packed. Very helpful video! Thanks a lot ☺️
Great video and I got excited(I’m a nerd) when u overpacked and went in for the kill to close each lol. I have the Monos hybrid trunk checked piece and the combination lock dials on the latches are tough to turn. It irks me each time I use the bag. You didn’t mention in your review so I’m not sure if this is a Monos trait or if I should reach out to them to inquire. Ty for your insight!
Lovely review. Just what I was looking for. I was between these two carry-ons to replace my ancient, awful one for a trip at the end of March. I think your review has helped me to choose Monos! (Though I really wish they offered more colors.)
You have summed up my remaining luggage angst with these two carryons. I have a silver Monos Hybrid Medium Checked and the matte brown July Checked Trunk. But my carryon is aluminum and I thought about picking one of the two to match as an alternate to alu-minium for my trip to Australia in March. Add the fact that the matte brown carryon trunk is out of stock, and I’m all just full of indecision. I even considered following your lead to checkout a July store in Sydney when I get there…so stuck but loved the video and can’t pick (if they both we available that is).
Great review! If you carefully click to open both latches at the same time, I bet that they’ll open even if you overpack. You might want to give your lens a wipe, it’s blurry on the right side (from our view).
Great review! I think you scared me out of overpacking, LOL! I don’t think you can go wrong with either one. However, I am loving my new Monos carry on so would probably stay with the Monos brand. Thanks for doing these videos!
When you over packed and lunged over the bags (15:20 and 16:50) to see if they would close I cringed. I would never overpack a bag, as a one bag traveler I make sure that I work within the 35/40 L and I also don't want to worry about the weight. Even though I'm not in the market for a wheeled bag I was #teammonos on this. Because I'm not shopping I did not realize that Monos was actually less expensive than July.... that shows you what marketing will do. With Monos and their heavily stylized emo models posing with the bags I actually assumed they were more lux. RE the power pack... My go to for my external batteries is Anker and I prefer their mAh per dimension and weight. The placement of the batteries by luggage companies was a gimmick from day one and the space they take up in the bag and the added weight are simply silly IMO. Another great comparison Lauren, I'm sure this will help many that are in the market..... and you're right, the lesson learned is not to overpack. 😊
This was a real deal review! I’m sorry but I’m still laughing about the struggle with trying to close overpacked luggages 🤣. I did get scared for a split second when it looked like the luggage was not going to open 😅. That July limited color brown edition is gorgeous but both luggages are beautiful ❤. Thanks for what you do Lauren 💞
Hmm.. Good to know... It must be a rare instance where things lay just right. Either way- doesn't matter bc I already purchased my luggage and I don't plan on returning it haha. Thank you for the response though - happy Easter
I'm trying to decide about which suitcase to get for hubby for a carry on. I think the July wins as I'm trying to get away from zippers. It's either July or Carl Frederick.
Thank you so much for this detailed review! I ended up going with July's Trunk set. I prefer the locks - they appear simple. The outer shell also looks and feels more solid, and I fell for the dark brown colour - it looks like chocolate bars! I wish Monos would be more adventurous with their colours. I hope I enjoy my purchase! Thanks again, and you have got a new subscriber! ☺
Both are top tier. The July is superior when it comes to the rolling resistance of the wheels most noticeable on carpet. Otherwise I prefer Monos. If Monos had the July wheels, it would be near perfect. Ther is a more basic problem with the July. If you live in the USA, strictly speaking, the July is too wide to meet carry on restriction criteria for most major airlines. This issue trumps all others.
I'm curious about July using those clips, instead of a zipper on the non-compression side. I can't tell if that is a good thing or a bad thing. I suppose having the clips would allow a little more flex for overpacking, but how sturdy are they? I can't tell which is better. That being said, since hybrids are heavier, and more costly, I probably wouldn't be interested in either. Thanks for your comparison video. Snowed in this morning with the blizzard, so I'm daydreaming about a trip somewhere warmer. 😅
That’s one reason why I went with Monos. I just wasn’t sure if I trust those hook on clips in July. The hooks look a little shallow and so I was concerned that they might slip off easily. Especially if that side is not packed evenly.
Yeah I don’t have enough experience with it on trips to see how I feel yet. 82 here in the Maldives while my husband is in a snowstorm too! Wish you were here haha
I still would have gone with the Monos, but lesson learned on those - no overpacking!! Would you have been able to press both release buttons at the same time to avoid one having an issue? Just wondered as you were trying to get them back open. Side note - got It's the Kellys merch I ordered (2 t-shirts) today and love them!!
Totally agree that the internal battery is not really a plus. Matter of fact, it was a reason I did not choose the July Carry On Trunk. I prefer to have the space and I'd just as soon have my portable battery charger in my personal item. I notice you measured 20 inches of interior length on the July, and you "lose" 2" in the vicinity of the wheels. The Monos, you measured 19.75" interior length and 1.25 "lost" to wheels. So a 1/2" difference in interior length in the the wheel areas between the two bags. I think what happened is July lowered the bag to the ground, and thus the wheels intrude a little further into the bag. To compensate, they made the bag slightly taller. However, for width, the July came in at 14" wide and the Monos 13". The net effect is the July has more packing space, and a lower center of gravity, with maybe more potential to drag over bumps.
Hello!! Love your videos! Very insightful since I’m also trying to find a good cary on haha. Have you thought of reaching out/buying and reviewing the Carl Friedrik or Antler carry-on luggage?
I really want you to compare the monos hybrid carry on plus or regular monos carry on plus with zipper to the beis carry on roller!!! PLEASE! I want to see which one holds more!
I like the fact Monos hybrid has the aluminum corners for better protection. By the way, is it me or I saw a Carl Fredrick carry on behind you? I would love to see a review of it against Monos Hybrid.
I have about 4 more trunks to review, and later in the year I’ll do a full trunk comparison, but I can’t compare each individually to it, there aren’t enough Saturdays to do so! (I will have a comparison chart soon though)
Hmm, I don't like how the handle backplates protrude into the packing compartment on both luggages. July is the better case but I wish it comes in plus size. Thank for the review
I love my Monos but i noticed with overpacking just a little that the handle gets “stuck” and doesn’t come up all the way. Do you have this issue when your monos hybrid? Love this comparison video might need to check out July
Do you use the Monos luggage cover when you are forced to check? Or do you find that not as necessary? Thank you! Love the videos you inspired my family and me to get Monos!
thanks for all of your awesome videos. I've been a "stealth watcher" for some time and couldnt resist commenting. Im in the market for yet another suitcase *face palm* and travel more often than i dont. Im seriously considering picking up the Monos Hybrid trunk or the away but im truly conflicted. I love the functionality, and aesthetic of monos. I much prefer no zippers for security reasons as well. The away trunk has maximum capacity of 107L whereas the monos trunk is an 89L trunk. It has been such a struggle to find great reviews of both away and monos. However, of those ive been able to find it seems that the monos hybrid exterior lacks in durability which would give another point to the away despite the away bag appearing less durable imo. Which would you recommend?
I’ve never been impressed with Away’s quality at all. I had to check my carryon for a round trip flight (due to no overhead bin space) and it’s the worst performance out of any other bag, when it comes to the outer shell. Looks chewed up and spit out. My monos carry on hybrid has been on 6+ trips, and has been checked for the same reasons and it’s still in perfect condition :)
@@ItsTheKellys thanks so much for taking the time to reply! This has largely been how I’ve viewed away. However, the storage capacity difference in their trunk vs monos, along with a few reviews had me questioning whether I should bite the bullet tomorrow and head to the away store. Monos seems so much more premium and I love the locks and overall features of the hybrid beyond the smaller 89L. I just hope it is big enough. I will likely pair it with some additional packing cubes as needed. Thanks for your response and continued additions. If there is a referral link or code that would benefit you please do let me know
My concern, on most bags is the weight. My son just went on a trip with Lufthansa, and the carry on weight limit (in all classes) is approx 17 lbs. We wanted to pack a couple of outfits and important stuff in case his check-in bag went awry, but we were at the weight limit with almost 50% of the bag being empty. In the end, for this trip, he lugged a lightweight duffle, so he could use the entire bag (if needed) and meet the weight requirements. In THIS case, it was an okay option (mostly) because he had transport from airport to hotel for a long-ish term stay (no moving from place to place). I know many carriers allow up to 35 lbs, but there are a LOT that also have the 17 lb (8kg) limits, and its a bummer finding bags that work well.
Oh believe me I’m on a trip where every airline is a 7kg weight limit and it was extremely difficult. No hard side bag worked, even the july lite, and I had to use a backpack. And then of course, I never got weighed. I only ever have once, in Australia.
@ItsTheKellys expanded carry-on in moss and the small checked in lavender grey. Now, eyeing off the carry-on trunk in purple 💜 just looked it on our Australian July website. We can choose between 10 standard colours including your lovely brown and 2 limited colours, including my favourite colour purple.
I wonder about the extra space between trolley handle frame in the Monos. It seems something else could have possibly fit in the upper portion of that space.
It could have, and I would have flattened out the scarf more, but I was trying to show the extra space that the July took away. It wouldn’t have made a difference though. It is smaller for sure
@itsthekellys Hi Lauren! New viewer here🙋♀️! Love your channel, it has been so helpful in my search for a new luggage set. I’m currently in between the Monis Hybrid 80/20 checked & carry-on in champagne and the July 80/20 Glossy Red trunk set. Both so beautiful but I’m concerned about scratching and damage over a two week trip to Europe. Also, I tend to over pack. Which set would you recommend between the two?
I like both, but I would never recommend glossy luggage due to scratches and looking dirty after touching it with fingerprints. Otherwise, it’s all up to you, with the pros and cons in the video!
Monos would be the winner if I was buying either one of these cases. Why? Looks better, zippered side holds in any loose items when case opens and my battery will be in my personal case so it’s with me on the flight.
You can actually over pack the monos and it's not a struggle to open. You just have to put weight on the bag again like you do when you close it to open it. It really isn't super difficult. You just have to make sure you have your whole body weight on it to open like you do when you close it. Does that make sense?
Not from my own personal recommendation. I don’t like those and actually have a video coming out about them tomorrow. I have the Biaggi and the Calpak Luka
for me monos hybrids. july looks cheap. and coming from rimowa aluminums monos hybrids is closes among the non luxury brands that come to match the hi end look of a rimowa. by the way i would never get a rimowa aluminium for check ins....had them and i don't care what anyone says rimowa aluminum check ins look terrible after few trips...scratch...dents...everywhere...looks like you got the luggage from some garbage dump. had to sell them and bought the monos hybrids instead and love them. but do highly recommend rimowa aluminum carry ons...just gorgeous.
I completely agree about Rimowa. I simply don’t understand it. Hardscore dents and scratches, and most people wear them with “pride” because they spent $1600. Thank you for being honest about it!
People like it because it’s zipperless, or because it’s the timeless/vintage aesthetic. Most zippered bags, you can break into with a pen, vs this, only someone with TSA keys can get into it.
DO NOT BUY MONOS. I bought a set of two MONOS suitcases. I traveled to Italy with my family. The others on our trip had AWAY and Briggs & Riley. My luggage looked so cheap next to theirs. Mine also buckled when stacked with the others. Their bags were several years old. My BRAND-NEW luggage looked like I tied the suitcases to the back of a truck and drove around town. Their bags looked new next to mine. I contacted MONOS to let them know how the luggage faired, and they told me to pound sand since I had used the luggage on the trip.
I actually have had the opposite experience. My away bag looks like it got chewed up and spit out after one round trip flight, whereas my 7 monos bags are all in wonderful condition after several trips, and Away won’t respond to my claim.
Please use our links to support our channel:
July Trunk: julyus.pxf.io/ZQZ2xR
Monos Hybrid: shrsl.com/4gh72
Which one do you prefer? Let’s talk about it below!
monos all the way, smaller for international travel, more space not taken up by the battery and wheel well, vegan leather over real leather, color-matching aluminum and also I like the latching mechanism more
I like the Monos because it meets the international carry on requirement, weighs less and is cheaper. Also, I think it looks more aesthically pleasing than the July trunk.
Girl the struggle was too real! 😂😂 The levels you go through to bring us these reviews are unmatched!
Aw thank you. I tried to go in depth but not too boring!
I hope you know how helpful and excellent your in depth reviews and comparisons are. The most comprehensive I've seen. Keep up the great work and thank you.
Aw thank you. 🙏🏽
Hands down the best luggage review I have ever seen! Thank you for showing real world situations. I have and do own the July checked plus, checked trunk and their carry on.
My issue with July is that the checked suitcases shell keep cracking around the wheels. The handle mounts of the first one broke as well.
However, July has absolutely phenomenal customer support and backs their products. They have the best customer support I have ever dealt with. Each time they were extremely responsive and had me a new suitcase in just a few days.
They have replaced the checked plus twice. Then, I paid to upgrade the second replacement to the trunk in hopes it wouldn't crack like the other two. Then the shell of the trunk started cracking around the wheel mounts as well. I didn't do a warranty replacement because the airline totaled the bag on my last trip before I had a chance to do a warranty claim again. They did far more damage than just the cracked shell. Someone had to have slammed it pretty hard. It wouldn't have been right of me to claim it with the airline and then warranty as well.
I think I like the Plus better though. On the trunk, I don't like the one side that uses clips instead of a zipper for the divider. Some people might like that if they over pack though. It just doesn't work for me.
I am considering going to the Monos trunk. It is a difficult decision because July really does back their products so well. I just wish they would do better reinforcing around the wheel mounts.
Anywho! Thanks for doing such a wonderful review!
wow, thanks for this review on the July luggage. Helps me make my decision.
@@tisa7997No worries at all! I actually ended up getting the Voyageur Check-In luggage from Level 8. I absolutely love it! The wheels are 10x better than the ones from July. Sometimes... They actually roll too good! Hahaha I was unsure about the wife handle because it won't go through the back loops on some bags. However, the top surface area is so large and it rolls so smooth that nothing falls off. Anywho glad my info helped!
@@BlakeBiellier Wow, better wheels than July? I'm going to check out Level 8 Voyageur as well. Thanks again! Take care.
@@tisa7997 No worries at all! Happy to help!
I have the monos carry on plus and fell in love with it more on my current trip where I overpacked and still got it to close. The amount of flex in the polycarbonate shell combined with the compression is amazing. Not to mention, monos looks way more lux than July’s trunk imo.
While I do like July’s light carry on options, monos wins in the hybrid category for me hands down
Yay! And I’m glad you were able to overpack it a bit 🥰
Airline person here-we allow batteries in cabin not left in bags for overhead. because a fire in the overhead takes longer to spot and cause more damage-and the damage caused are significant.
I want to see the Monos compared to the Level 8!
I have two level 8 trunks coming :)
I just took my level 8 voyageur set on a cruise. The larger one is trunk style but still zippered. Meaning one side is much deeper than the other. We could not believe how easy it was to roll. My husband took both of them out of the car, and they almost started rolling away from him in the parking lot. That's how fantastic they roll. Hands down the best wheels i've ever had. And although the wider handle doesn't work on my personal item, It made up for it in the ease of pushing it. I bought this on recommendation from you and it did not disappoint. Now I am looking for a zipperless option. So thank you for this review.
@lisahapper379 woo hoo!! I know what you mean about it rolling away. It happens to me all the time when we have to film multiple bags at once 😂😂
@@ItsTheKellys 🤣🤣
Thank you for this review. I was deciding between Monos and July but after watching this video, I have decided to buy July.
Sounds great! I just traveled with mine to Bolivia and Brazil, it was wonderful.
I have the Monos and love it. So far, no scratches and I'm not the only one using it for travel. If I didn't already have the Monos, I still would buy it. The July is lovely but the price is too steep for a few extra inches of space. Thanks for the comparison. Great job!
Mine has been on 3 trips and multiple filming days where it’s thrown around for things and it’s still perfect too! :)
I’m okay with the smaller size and lower price point, so monos wins for me! I have overpacked mine a few times and the stuck latch is terrifying 😅
😂😂
Thank you so much for this!! I wish this video was available before I made my purchase, but I don’t think it would have really changed my decision. I have the Monos Carry-on and Check-in Medium. I went with Monos for a few reasons:
1. Price - this made a large reason as to why I picked Monos. They were significantly more affordable and shipping was cheaper for me. July’s shipping price to me was just too much.
2. Compartments - I like the zipper side in the Monos over the hook side of the July. I liked the idea of one side being completely closed off in case of any loose items I may have that could spill out if for some reason it opened unexpectedly.
3. Battery - I don’t prefer the battery included with the luggage. I think it takes up valuable space. And I prefer to carry my battery in my personal item anyways so I can access it anytime on a flight.
4. Size - I don’t mind the monos being smaller since I feel that forces me to not overpack which I can easily do. So it holds me accountable. Also I’m not as worried about size restrictions with my monos.
5. Telescoping handle - I don’t need 20 settings for the handle height. I’m short anyways. Plus the smaller width of it makes it easy to slide my personal item onto it. And it’s very sturdy!
Thank you for letting us know! Good thoughts all around!
I agree with all five of your points! When I read a comment such as yours I think to myself...... "now WE could travel together!!" 🌍🌏🌎
I recently purchased the Monos Hybrid carryon also in champagne. It’s beautiful and haven’t traveled with it yet. Traveling to the Paris Olympics this summer and hoping this will be my only piece of luggage🤞.
I would worry about the luggage popping open when its over packed. This is a great video, thank you.
We are on the fence between these two bags, thank you for taking time to compare these and the sweat to over pack them.
Thank you for doing July luggage reviews. I don’t see that many and your reviews have always been helpful.
You’re welcome! They are some of my favorite!
I was planning on buying either cases because I was intrigued with the zipper less. However I do tend to over pack and you have helped to decide to go with the expendables😅
Great review. Both cases are great and I would love to have either one of them. It is a tough call, it is difficult to decide between them. One thing I appreciate about both is the "no zippers to break into for a suitcase contents thief" feature.
The overpacking scenario, although dramatic, was very realistic of what happens to people coming home from vacation with unintended purchases.
It seems like suitcases are tending to go retro in design these days with hard sided and no zipper trunks. For many years it was all about the soft-sided fabric and light weight features. These remind me of the suitcases of old before the Travelpro wheelie bag was invented. I wonder where we will be in 5 years in terms of luggage? Thanks Lauren for another comprehensive review.
Very dramatic, but only added 2 sweaters! Compared to everything I bought on my last trip… I’m not sure if I would have been able to overpack had I brought one of the trunks! I would have been in trouble!
It is interesting, indeed. I have 3 more trunks waiting at home for me to review, too.
I want the trend to be light luggage, like July’s lite. For this trip I’m on now, there was a weight limit and 90% of my bags couldn’t be used
I appreciate you creating this content! It’s so helpful for deciding between these two great pieces of luggage. It made my decision a lot easier.
I also appreciate how you explained everything in detail and even showed how each one looks when packed.
Very helpful video! Thanks a lot ☺️
You’re very welcome
Great video and I got excited(I’m a nerd) when u overpacked and went in for the kill to close each lol. I have the Monos hybrid trunk checked piece and the combination lock dials on the latches are tough to turn. It irks me each time I use the bag. You didn’t mention in your review so I’m not sure if this is a Monos trait or if I should reach out to them to inquire. Ty for your insight!
Lovely review. Just what I was looking for. I was between these two carry-ons to replace my ancient, awful one for a trip at the end of March. I think your review has helped me to choose Monos! (Though I really wish they offered more colors.)
You have summed up my remaining luggage angst with these two carryons. I have a silver Monos Hybrid Medium Checked and the matte brown July Checked Trunk. But my carryon is aluminum and I thought about picking one of the two to match as an alternate to alu-minium for my trip to Australia in March. Add the fact that the matte brown carryon trunk is out of stock, and I’m all just full of indecision.
I even considered following your lead to checkout a July store in Sydney when I get there…so stuck but loved the video and can’t pick (if they both we available that is).
Get the new purple color and we can switch. Boom, easy! Haha
@@ItsTheKellys Perfect! I even debated getting the matte Cream to contrast the brown, but a swap would be the bomb! Boom!
Great review! If you carefully click to open both latches at the same time, I bet that they’ll open even if you overpack. You might want to give your lens a wipe, it’s blurry on the right side (from our view).
That was Brian’s fault. I was teaching him for to set it up and he touched it and didn’t realize til it was done :( and then I had to fly out.
Great review! I think you scared me out of overpacking, LOL! I don’t think you can go wrong with either one. However, I am loving my new Monos carry on so would probably stay with the Monos brand. Thanks for doing these videos!
I scared myself out of overpacking too!
When you over packed and lunged over the bags (15:20 and 16:50) to see if they would close I cringed.
I would never overpack a bag, as a one bag traveler I make sure that I work within the 35/40 L and I also don't want to worry about the weight.
Even though I'm not in the market for a wheeled bag I was #teammonos on this. Because I'm not shopping I did not realize that Monos was actually less expensive than July.... that shows you what marketing will do. With Monos and their heavily stylized emo models posing with the bags I actually assumed they were more lux.
RE the power pack... My go to for my external batteries is Anker and I prefer their mAh per dimension and weight. The placement of the batteries by luggage companies was a gimmick from day one and the space they take up in the bag and the added weight are simply silly IMO.
Another great comparison Lauren, I'm sure this will help many that are in the market..... and you're right, the lesson learned is not to overpack. 😊
This was a really good review. You're very good at this and thorough. Please keep making reviews
Aw thank you so much
i have monos carry on plus and this july is the best comparison of monos, upgraded version
This was a real deal review! I’m sorry but I’m still laughing about the struggle with trying to close overpacked luggages 🤣. I did get scared for a split second when it looked like the luggage was not going to open 😅. That July limited color brown edition is gorgeous but both luggages are beautiful ❤. Thanks for what you do Lauren 💞
The struggle was real lol
@@ItsTheKellys 🤣
Such a great and fun review! I recently bought the Monos hybrid in obsidian and so excited to use it on my next trip! (Also bought the Monos tote) 🖤
This was a very helpful comparison video. I think Monos would be my pick due to price point and the inside space configuration.
No one in any review mentions this: if you use the center telescoping grooves for storage on the monos... The handle gets stuck alot when you pull it
I’ve had people mention it in comments but have yet to experience it myself!
Hmm.. Good to know... It must be a rare instance where things lay just right. Either way- doesn't matter bc I already purchased my luggage and I don't plan on returning it haha. Thank you for the response though - happy Easter
I actually had this happen to me recently. Still love the suitcase but definitely something to keep in mind when packing
Great comparison! I wonder if releasing the clasps simultaneously when opening the over stuffed ones would avoid it getting stuck on one side.
I'm trying to decide about which suitcase to get for hubby for a carry on. I think the July wins as I'm trying to get away from zippers. It's either July or Carl Frederick.
It the monos came in pink I’d go with it! I appreciate that it’s lighter & the battery pa m doesn’t take up space
That would be so pretty, like a metallic rose gold!
Thank you so much for this detailed review! I ended up going with July's Trunk set. I prefer the locks - they appear simple. The outer shell also looks and feels more solid, and I fell for the dark brown colour - it looks like chocolate bars! I wish Monos would be more adventurous with their colours. I hope I enjoy my purchase! Thanks again, and you have got a new subscriber! ☺
You are so welcome!
Both are top tier. The July is superior when it comes to the rolling resistance of the wheels most noticeable on carpet. Otherwise I prefer Monos. If Monos had the July wheels, it would be near perfect. Ther is a more basic problem with the July. If you live in the USA, strictly speaking, the July is too wide to meet carry on restriction criteria for most major airlines. This issue trumps all others.
😢 I so loved the July for no zippers.
I’m wanting to get a set of the minis but have to wait for it to go on sell. Definitely the hybrid collection
I still prefer Monos. Not being bias though as I have the Hybrid set with the carry on plus 😉
I'm curious about July using those clips, instead of a zipper on the non-compression side. I can't tell if that is a good thing or a bad thing. I suppose having the clips would allow a little more flex for overpacking, but how sturdy are they? I can't tell which is better. That being said, since hybrids are heavier, and more costly, I probably wouldn't be interested in either. Thanks for your comparison video. Snowed in this morning with the blizzard, so I'm daydreaming about a trip somewhere warmer. 😅
That’s one reason why I went with Monos. I just wasn’t sure if I trust those hook on clips in July. The hooks look a little shallow and so I was concerned that they might slip off easily. Especially if that side is not packed evenly.
Yeah I don’t have enough experience with it on trips to see how I feel yet.
82 here in the Maldives while my husband is in a snowstorm too! Wish you were here haha
I want to know too. Not having that zippered side with the "lip" around it, seems like you can pack easier. I still don't know which I like better!
@ItsTheKellys poor Brian, you better bring him back a super nice tshirt. 😉
We are all jealous, but hope that you have a marvelous time!!!
@cs-yq5ed he has a special it’s the Kellys shirt coming in the mail 😂
I still would have gone with the Monos, but lesson learned on those - no overpacking!! Would you have been able to press both release buttons at the same time to avoid one having an issue? Just wondered as you were trying to get them back open. Side note - got It's the Kellys merch I ordered (2 t-shirts) today and love them!!
If I ever overpacked again, I’d try that for sure, but now I’m too scared!
I’m glad you love your merch! Thank you for your support always!
Which travel tripod do you use?
Totally agree that the internal battery is not really a plus. Matter of fact, it was a reason I did not choose the July Carry On Trunk. I prefer to have the space and I'd just as soon have my portable battery charger in my personal item.
I notice you measured 20 inches of interior length on the July, and you "lose" 2" in the vicinity of the wheels. The Monos, you measured 19.75" interior length and 1.25 "lost" to wheels. So a 1/2" difference in interior length in the the wheel areas between the two bags. I think what happened is July lowered the bag to the ground, and thus the wheels intrude a little further into the bag. To compensate, they made the bag slightly taller. However, for width, the July came in at 14" wide and the Monos 13". The net effect is the July has more packing space, and a lower center of gravity, with maybe more potential to drag over bumps.
Are either of these bags sustainable?
Hello!! Love your videos! Very insightful since I’m also trying to find a good cary on haha. Have you thought of reaching out/buying and reviewing the Carl Friedrik or Antler carry-on luggage?
I have the Carl Freidrik right behind me in this video actually. I’m reviewing it when I get back from this trip!
@@ItsTheKellys yessss!! That’s what I thought and was trying to find a review on your page haha.
What tripod you packed in in those two carry on? Thanks.
I really want you to compare the monos hybrid carry on plus or regular monos carry on plus with zipper to the beis carry on roller!!! PLEASE! I want to see which one holds more!
They will probably hold the same except that the Beis expands. But monos has better compression.
I like the fact Monos hybrid has the aluminum corners for better protection. By the way, is it me or I saw a Carl Fredrick carry on behind you? I would love to see a review of it against Monos Hybrid.
I have about 4 more trunks to review, and later in the year I’ll do a full trunk comparison, but I can’t compare each individually to it, there aren’t enough Saturdays to do so! (I will have a comparison chart soon though)
Hmm, I don't like how the handle backplates protrude into the packing compartment on both luggages. July is the better case but I wish it comes in plus size. Thank for the review
I have yet to find a bag where that doesn’t happen honestly
I love my Monos but i noticed with overpacking just a little that the handle gets “stuck” and doesn’t come up all the way. Do you have this issue when your monos hybrid? Love this comparison video might need to check out July
Do you use the Monos luggage cover when you are forced to check? Or do you find that not as necessary? Thank you! Love the videos you inspired my family and me to get Monos!
I don’t own any luggage covers. My hybrid has been checked a few times and it’s fine :)
Both of these are interesting bags - but if you're in this price range I would go with Carl Fredrick
I do like the Carl- but it didn’t pass my scratch test like these ones did.
thanks for all of your awesome videos. I've been a "stealth watcher" for some time and couldnt resist commenting. Im in the market for yet another suitcase *face palm* and travel more often than i dont. Im seriously considering picking up the Monos Hybrid trunk or the away but im truly conflicted. I love the functionality, and aesthetic of monos. I much prefer no zippers for security reasons as well. The away trunk has maximum capacity of 107L whereas the monos trunk is an 89L trunk. It has been such a struggle to find great reviews of both away and monos. However, of those ive been able to find it seems that the monos hybrid exterior lacks in durability which would give another point to the away despite the away bag appearing less durable imo. Which would you recommend?
I’ve never been impressed with Away’s quality at all. I had to check my carryon for a round trip flight (due to no overhead bin space) and it’s the worst performance out of any other bag, when it comes to the outer shell. Looks chewed up and spit out. My monos carry on hybrid has been on 6+ trips, and has been checked for the same reasons and it’s still in perfect condition :)
@@ItsTheKellys thanks so much for taking the time to reply! This has largely been how I’ve viewed away. However, the storage capacity difference in their trunk vs monos, along with a few reviews had me questioning whether I should bite the bullet tomorrow and head to the away store. Monos seems so much more premium and I love the locks and overall features of the hybrid beyond the smaller 89L. I just hope it is big enough. I will likely pair it with some additional packing cubes as needed. Thanks for your response and continued additions. If there is a referral link or code that would benefit you please do let me know
can you review the monos hybrid trunk?
I did, over a year ago! Here is the link: Monos Hybrid Carry On luggage review | My Favorite Carry On!
ruclips.net/video/BdiWG6Wgxr0/видео.html
My concern, on most bags is the weight. My son just went on a trip with Lufthansa, and the carry on weight limit (in all classes) is approx 17 lbs. We wanted to pack a couple of outfits and important stuff in case his check-in bag went awry, but we were at the weight limit with almost 50% of the bag being empty. In the end, for this trip, he lugged a lightweight duffle, so he could use the entire bag (if needed) and meet the weight requirements. In THIS case, it was an okay option (mostly) because he had transport from airport to hotel for a long-ish term stay (no moving from place to place). I know many carriers allow up to 35 lbs, but there are a LOT that also have the 17 lb (8kg) limits, and its a bummer finding bags that work well.
Air New Zealand limit is 15 pounds.
Oh believe me I’m on a trip where every airline is a 7kg weight limit and it was extremely difficult. No hard side bag worked, even the july lite, and I had to use a backpack.
And then of course, I never got weighed. I only ever have once, in Australia.
I'm a July girl ❤ I have 2 cases
Which ones? 🥰
@ItsTheKellys expanded carry-on in moss and the small checked in lavender grey. Now, eyeing off the carry-on trunk in purple 💜 just looked it on our Australian July website. We can choose between 10 standard colours including your lovely brown and 2 limited colours, including my favourite colour purple.
@SeasideTarot I ADORE the purple.
That settles it I’m getting the Level 8 Freeloop 😂
Did you end up buying? What color? Convinced my gf to get one as well.
I wonder about the extra space between trolley handle frame in the Monos. It seems something else could have possibly fit in the upper portion of that space.
It could have, and I would have flattened out the scarf more, but I was trying to show the extra space that the July took away. It wouldn’t have made a difference though. It is smaller for sure
@itsthekellys Hi Lauren! New viewer here🙋♀️! Love your channel, it has been so helpful in my search for a new luggage set. I’m currently in between the Monis Hybrid 80/20 checked & carry-on in champagne and the July 80/20 Glossy Red trunk set. Both so beautiful but I’m concerned about scratching and damage over a two week trip to Europe. Also, I tend to over pack. Which set would you recommend between the two?
I like both, but I would never recommend glossy luggage due to scratches and looking dirty after touching it with fingerprints. Otherwise, it’s all up to you, with the pros and cons in the video!
Monos would be the winner if I was buying either one of these cases. Why? Looks better, zippered side holds in any loose items when case opens and my battery will be in my personal case so it’s with me on the flight.
You can actually over pack the monos and it's not a struggle to open. You just have to put weight on the bag again like you do when you close it to open it. It really isn't super difficult. You just have to make sure you have your whole body weight on it to open like you do when you close it. Does that make sense?
I did do that :-/ I cut it down for time but it was about a 7 min effort of getting it unstuck. On both bags.
Which checked in trunk do you prefer....Monos Hybrid trunk or the July trunk?
I don’t check bags, so I haven’t even looked into either of them.
Do you have any recommendations for a luggage that isn't clam shell style? Thanks!
Not from my own personal recommendation. I don’t like those and actually have a video coming out about them tomorrow. I have the Biaggi and the Calpak Luka
Would you be doing a trunk pro carry on review one day pls
I have recently come across the slogaard original carryon and large check in. Have you reviewed this yet?
I have not. I desperately want to review it because I personally think it’s ridiculous, but I’m not ready to drop hundreds to prove a point 😂
You’re the best friend
Have you reviewed the Carl Friedrik Carry on Pro yer? I am very interested in that one.
It’s sitting there waiting for me to review when I return from my trip :)
Whats that navy blue metal case behind you with the brown leather handle??????
It’s from Carl Friedrik. I’ve reviewed it and have another one coming up that’s not the “pro” version. It’s $$$$ though
I wonder with this way of closing, would it be at risk of popping open if something hits the latches during its airline travels?
It locks with the TSA lock. If anything I’m more worried about it not opening than opening on its own
for me monos hybrids. july looks cheap. and coming from rimowa aluminums monos hybrids is closes among the non luxury brands that come to match the hi end look of a rimowa. by the way i would never get a rimowa aluminium for check ins....had them and i don't care what anyone says rimowa aluminum check ins look terrible after few trips...scratch...dents...everywhere...looks like you got the luggage from some garbage dump. had to sell them and bought the monos hybrids instead and love them. but do highly recommend rimowa aluminum carry ons...just gorgeous.
I completely agree about Rimowa. I simply don’t understand it. Hardscore dents and scratches, and most people wear them with “pride” because they spent $1600. Thank you for being honest about it!
Just FYI you paid $495 AUD. Which makes it about $324 USD
Thanks for sharing!
Enjoyed the content as usual, but there was something going on with your camera my friend. Looks like something on the lense or out of focus... odd
Ya, Brian got a smudge on it that I didn’t notice until it was already filmed.
Is there an advantage to the trunk style? This is the first time I’m seeing that kind of carry on.
People like it because it’s zipperless, or because it’s the timeless/vintage aesthetic. Most zippered bags, you can break into with a pen, vs this, only someone with TSA keys can get into it.
Thanks for overpacking 😂
It was a sweaty experience 😂
I would love to see a comparison on the locks of the suitcases
It’s in the video. Not sure how much more I can show of them.
My question is which one of them rolls the best. I am going to Belguim and France and I worry about the wheels the most.
They are both great, in my opinion. I have used July and monos wheels on cobblestone and airports and carpets, and they have been great :)
It doesn't look like these bags have an extender to fit more a few more items.
No, trunks do not expand
Which one do you prefer ? Monos LG or LG Hybrid ? Let’s here it !
Great fucking video!
Thank you!
When you over pack you would have to pop both locks at the same time… painful trick.
DO NOT BUY MONOS. I bought a set of two MONOS suitcases. I traveled to Italy with my family. The others on our trip had AWAY and Briggs & Riley. My luggage looked so cheap next to theirs. Mine also buckled when stacked with the others. Their bags were several years old. My BRAND-NEW luggage looked like I tied the suitcases to the back of a truck and drove around town. Their bags looked new next to mine. I contacted MONOS to let them know how the luggage faired, and they told me to pound sand since I had used the luggage on the trip.
I actually have had the opposite experience. My away bag looks like it got chewed up and spit out after one round trip flight, whereas my 7 monos bags are all in wonderful condition after several trips, and Away won’t respond to my claim.
Your lens was dirty when you recorded this video, making it blurry in the middle.
Thanks, I’m aware, but this video was under a strict deadline and was highly requested and I didn’t have time to refilm.