Monos Carry-On Pro Plus: The Goldilocks Of Suitcases

As a content-creating, frequent-flying girlie, I’ve put way too many suitcases to the test over the years. Some were solid, some were cheapies, and then there were the ones that distracted me with their good looks—only to reveal their not-so-functional flaws once I actually started traveling with them.

Long ago, when I was doing my own research on suitcases, I decided to buy two suitcases because I was completely torn and could not for the life of me just pick one. I ended up getting the Monos Carry-On Pro and Paravel’s Aviator Carry-On Plus.

To this day, these carry-ons are still the ones I reach for depending on my trip length (one of them is bigger than the other and they have different features).

I personally adore these two brands for both their sustainability efforts and for all the products they make; but if I’m being honest, after using both of them for nearly 5 years, I’ve realized that neither of the suitcases fit perfectly. If I was Goldilocks, neither of these were Baby Bear’s stuff.

I still had struggles while packing. I still struggled while getting through the airport. I knew I could do better.

Not-so-subtle foreshadowing: the Monos Carry-On Pro was not the best fit for me, but the Carry-On Pro Plus was exactly what I needed all along!!!!

Table of Contents

Monos Carry-On Pro: Too Small For My Needs.

Over the last five years, I’ve found myself reaching for my Paravel suitcase (46L) more than my Monos suitcase (36L). Not because I liked one brand over the other, but because most of my trips have been 3+ days.

My Monos Carry-On Pro was often too small for my trip needs.

Paravel Aviator Carry-On Plus Review — Monos Carry-On Pro (left) vs. Paravel Carry-On Plus (right)

The Carry-On Pro has a capacity of 36 liters and per the website, can accommodate a trip length of 2-5 days. As someone who always likes to pack a pair of stylish, comfortable walking shoes and a pair of workout shoes, I personally found it to be more like 2-3 days’ worth of stuff.

It was great for trips to warm places (LA, Hawaii, Cancun, Thailand), but I found myself wanting more room for a lot of my other trips.

I’m also not a checked luggage person, so everything I need to bring with me needs to fit in either my carry-on suitcase or the backpack that I use to carry my laptop, camera, crossbody sling bag (with all my daily necessities), water bottle, and other overflow stuff.

This backpack is another character of the story. Remember it!

Paravel Aviator Carry-On Plus: The Handles Are Too Wide.

This sounds like a cosmetic complaint, I know, but it’s not!

Going back to that backpack I mentioned a few sentences ago… this backpack can get heavy. On any given trip, it usually holds a ton of heavy tech items and an extra sling bag that holds everything I need to function on a daily basis (water, wallet, glasses, first-aid kit, etc.).

The laptop and camera alone weigh 10 pounds! Can you imagine my poor back…

Whenever I can, I try to set all that weight on top of my carry-on suitcase so that my shoulders and back can relax (and so I don’t have to be a sweaty mess when I’m walking through the airport or from a train station to a hotel).

Here’s problem #2. The Paravel Aviator Carry-On Plus, the larger of my two trusty carry-ons, has an annoying telescopic handle.

Paravel’s telescopic handle design is very pretty–I’ll give them that–but it gets in the way of functionality. Instead of being sleek and streamlined, the top of the handle flares out on both sides, making it frustratingly difficult to slide a trolley sleeve over it.

My travel backpack has a built-in trolley sleeve, but since the opening isn’t super wide, I end up spending a solid 20 to 30 seconds wrestling it onto the handle—while dealing with a fully packed, heavy bag that isn’t exactly flexible.

It’s a small design flaw that turns into a huge annoyance when you travel as much as I do. After years of struggling with it at airports, I can confidently say: this handle is not it for me.

The Goldilocks Of Carry-Ons: Monos Carry-On Pro Plus.

After 5 whole years of dealing with my struggles, I have found the perfect suitcase that works with me, not against me!

Not too big, not too small—just right. At 46L, the Monos Carry-On Pro Plus is the perfect middle ground for carry-on travelers who still like some extra space.

It’s a major step up from the Monos Carry-On Pro (36L, which I found to be a bit too small) and, while similar in capacity to my Paravel Carry-On Plus (46.6L), it has two features that make it a clear winner:

A built-in exterior compartment—perfect for a 16″ laptop, iPad, travel docs, snacks, or whatever else you need quick access to. No more unzipping your whole suitcase just to grab something mid-flight.
Trolley sleeve-friendly handles—unlike Paravel’s frustratingly flared-out handle, Monos’ telescopic handle is designed to fit bags with trolley sleeves. And not just Monos bags—the handles are thin enough to fit almost any trolley sleeve, which was a HUGE factor in making this my top pick.

Traveling has become a lot more streamlined since I made the switch.

Monos Weekender With Trolley Sleeve and Monos Carry-On Pro Plus — All the little things that make this an A+ suitcase.

Monos Carry-On Pro Plus Exterior Pocket — All the little things that make this an A+ suitcase.

The size difference: Pro vs Pro Plus

Let’s break it down:

The Pro Plus is the bigger carry-on sibling, perfect for trips lasting 3–7 days. It’s slightly taller and wider than the Pro, giving you extra space for packing. It weighs 8.38 lbs and holds about 36L of stuff.
The Pro is the more compact option, ideal for shorter trips of 2–5 days. It’s a bit smaller all around, lighter at 7.8 lbs, and holds about 29L of stuff.

TAKEAWAY: if you’re a light packer or a weekend warrior, the Pro is your go-to. But if you need more room for longer trips or just like having extra space, the Pro Plus is worth the upgrade.

Monos Carry On Pro vs Carry On Pro Plus — Monos Carry On Pro (left) and Carry On Pro Plus (right).

Final Thoughts: 100% Recommend.

Sure, technically any carry-on will get the job done—but when you travel as much as I do, you start to notice the little things that make a suitcase go from just okay to actually perfect.

For me, that’s the Monos Carry-On Pro Plus. It’s sleek, functional, and designed with travelers in mind—no frustrating handles, no wasted space, just a well-thought-out bag that makes every trip smoother.

Plus, they come in so many gorgeous earthtone colors. I’m obsessed with Desert Taupe and Olive Green (the two I own!).

Function over aesthetics? Monos proves you don’t have to choose.

More About The Brand: Monos

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With so many luggage brands out there, what makes Monos the one worth obsessing over?

For starters, Monos—a Canadian luggage brand—was created to solve a problem. The founders realized that most luggage brands nailed design, quality, OR affordability—but rarely all three at once. So, they set out to create a suitcase that checks every box: premium materials, minimalist aesthetics, and a fair price tag.

And they didn’t stop there. Monos became the first luggage brand to be Climate Neutral Certified, meaning their entire operation is net-zero in carbon emissions. Plus, they stand by their premium luggage with a 100-day trial and a limited lifetime warranty on parts—because no one should be stuck with a suitcase that can’t keep up.

Their carry-ons are packed with high-end details like TSA-approved locks, ultra-smooth Hinomoto wheels, YKK zippers, and internal compression pads. Whether you want an expandable case, a sleek polycarbonate shell, or even a polycarbonate-meets-aluminum hybrid, Monos has options.

Oh, and their compressible packing cubes, weekender bags, duffel bags, and backpacks? Obsessed. I own all of them.

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