Level8 vs Monos Carry-On: An Honest Comparison After Traveling With Both
This post is a HEAD-TO-HEAD comparison of Level8 vs Monos.
If you’ve been around here for a while, you know I’ve taken my Monos carry-on plus on multiple family trips (and it’s been a solid performer). But recently, I had the chance to try out the Level8 Voyageur Carry-On 20”. This is actually my first time working with a luggage brand like this, so I was genuinely excited to test it out and see how it functioned in real life—especially compared to a carry-on I’ve used on countless trips. So…challenge accepted: Level8 vs Monos!
This is a real-world, honest comparison of Level8 vs Monos—how they pack, how they roll, and which one I’d actually grab when we’re heading out the door for our next trip. And yes, there is one small detail I noticed right away that might matter more than you think.
Level8 vs Monos Table of Contents:
Quick Comparison Snapshot
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Level8 Voyageur Carry-On 20” |
Monos Carry-On Plus |
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Dimensions |
Height: 21.3″ (54.10 cm) |
Height: 23″ (58.42 cm) |
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Weight |
8.1 lbs (3.7 kg) |
7.38 lbs (3.4 kg) |
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Capacity |
43 L |
45.9 L |
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Retail Price |
$260 |
$295 |
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Warrenty |
Lifetime warranty that covers any functional damage to the shell, wheels, handles, zippers, or anything else that impairs your use of the luggage. This warranty covers only manufacturing defects, not transport damage or normal wear and tear. |
Lifetime warranty covers broken or malfunctioning wheels, handles, or telescopic handles that stop performing as intended, and locks or zippers that no longer function as designed. Does not cover transport damage or normal wear and tear. |
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Special Notes |
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First Impressions
Monos
The summer of 2022 was when my travel bug really kicked in. I decided that June 2023 would be our first big international family trip, so the planning began. One of the first things on my travel essentials list? New luggage.
There are so many options out there, but I knew I wanted to try a hard-shell suitcase for our month-long trip around Italy. I had never owned one before, but it felt like the smartest choice for trains, airports, and plenty of moving around. At the time, Monos caught my eye because of its sleek design and lower price point compared to Away Luggage.
My first impression of Monos was its polished, modern look. The outer shell felt smooth yet slightly flexible. I also loved how many color options they offered. The luggage came with a laundry bag, multiple shoe bags, and a nice linen-feel dust cover.
I was surprised by how lightweight it felt, but I’ll admit, I wondered if it could survive the cobblestone streets of Italy. Luckily, it handled the trip beautifully, and three years later, it has continued to be our go-to luggage.
Level8
Honestly, I probably never would have tried a different luggage brand if someone hadn’t reached out and asked me to. But when the Level8 Voyageur Carry-On 20” showed up at my door, my first thought was: Okay…this is nice.
The packaging kept the luggage looking pristine. It arrived in a simple, nondescript white dust cover that didn’t exactly wow me—but it fits like a glove and will be great for storing the suitcase in my closet between trips.
As for color options, there weren’t many. I tend to gravitate toward gray luggage, and Level8’s Dark Olive gave me the closest gray vibe. It works for me, but if you love having lots of color choices, that could be something to consider.
The Level8 Voyageur has a rich, textured look with a sturdy shell that feels more heavy-duty than my Monos. My first impression? It looks and feels luxe. Right away, the biggest thing I noticed was the extra-wide trolley handle. It’s definitely different from the standard center-handle design. I was immediately curious to see how that would affect the packing space inside—and, more importantly, how it would perform during real travel.
Level8 vs Monos: Head-to-Head Pictures
- Level8
Monos
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Monos
Size, Capacity, and Packing
Have you ever been the last person at baggage claim, staring at the carousel as everyone else leaves, slowly realizing your bag is not coming? Yeah… me neither. I carry on. LOL!
So, when you’re a carry-on-only kind of traveler, the amount of stuff you can squeeze into that one bag is very important. I was able to try out the Level8 Voyageur Carry-on 20” on a recent trip to New Orleans, and I was pleasantly surprised at the packing capability of this bag.
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Monos
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When it comes to packing, the first thing I reach for is my packing cubes. Luckily, my Monos compression cubes fit perfectly inside the Level8 bag, which made comparing Level8 vs Monos capacity incredibly easy. To my surprise, both carry-ons held the exact same items. The only difference? The Level8 Voyageur zipped closed with ease, while my Monos needed some serious help—aka the classic “sit-on-it” method. So realistically, I probably could have packed a couple extra items in the Level8.
Packing Capacity Winner: Level8 Voyageur 20”
Level8 vs Monos: Functional Features
Here’s where we get down to the nitty-gritty. Let’s compare the real MVP features of any carry-on: trolley handles, zippers, wheels, and interior compartments. And yes, I’m picking a winner in each category.
Trolley Handle
Extra-wide Level8 vs. standard center Monos handle. I’m loving the strong, secure feel of Level8’s wide trolley handle, but I can’t get past one issue: the trolley sleeve on my personal item bag doesn’t fit over it. Most travelers probably already own bags with a standard-size trolley sleeve, so I don’t think I’d be the only one running into this.
I searched online for a personal item bag with a wider trolley sleeve, and the options were slim. In fact, I only found one: the Level8 Urban Backpack (which I ended up purchasing). So even Level8 currently gives you just one obvious match. The only other solution I can think of is using a luggage strap. While an inexpensive fix, it’s not nearly as secure or convenient as a built-in trolley sleeve.
If you’d like an update after I’ve had a chance to test the Level8 Urban Backpack, let me know in the comments!
Wide Trolley Handle
Level8 Voyageur
On our recent trip, I used my Away Everywhere Bag with the Level8 Voyageur. My fix for the trolley sleeve issue was wrapping the shoulder strap around and through the top handles. It worked, but it was frustrating not being able to easily slide the bag on and off the luggage handle.
When I’m walking long distances through a city, train station, or airport, I need to be able to separate my bags quickly—especially when stairs pop up. It’s much easier to throw my duffel strap over my shoulder and grab my carry-on in hand. If I’m repeatedly untangling a shoulder strap from the trolley handle, that convenience disappears fast.
That said, the outer placement of the telescoping handle on the Level8 does seem to create better packing capacity, at least in my experience. So I’m genuinely torn on this design.
Both Level8 and Monos have sturdy, smooth-functioning telescopic handles, but I have to give the trolley handle win to Monos for everyday practicality. I’d love to see Level8 lean into their design and create more tote, duffel, and personal item options that work with it. As a mom traveler, I’m much more likely to grab a tote or duffel than a backpack. Until then, Monos wins this round.
Trolley Handle Winner: Monos Carry-On Plus
Rolling Wheels
Here’s where the Level8 Voyageur 20” really shines. These might be the smoothest wheels I’ve experienced on a carry-on. They’re quiet, effortless, and honestly, it’s kind of fun to glide along with this bag. Maybe it’s the fresh-out-of-the-box factor, but so far… they’re NICE.
My Monos has similarly quiet wheels, but in a side-by-side push test, my 3-year-old Monos Carry-On Plus came up short. To be fair, some of that could simply be age and wear, but right now, Level8 takes this category.
Roller Wheels Winner: Level8 Voyageur 20”
Zippers
What can I say? Zippers matter.
Monos impressed me from day one with their zipper design. I honestly didn’t realize luggage zippers could look beautiful until I saw the Monos Carry-On Plus. The reverse coil zipper blends into the suitcase with the matching color design, making it look way more luxe than a zipper has any business looking.
Vanity aside, the Monos zipper has also been incredibly smooth and has never snagged on me. After three years of travel, that’s saying a lot.
The jury is still out on the Level8 Voyageur 20”. I need more time and more trips with this bag before I can fully speak to long-term zipper durability. What I can say so far is that it doesn’t glide nearly as smoothly as the Monos zipper. The interior zipper compartments also require a little more tugging than I’d prefer.
That said, I really just need a zipper to open and close reliably. If the Level8 Voyageur continues to do that over the next few trips, I’ll be happy. But for now, the zipper win goes to Monos.
Zipper Winner: Monos Carry-On Plus
Interior Compartments
The interior of each of these carry-ons is unique. Monos features a compression panel, while Level8 adds a wet/dry separation pocket.
For me, I can take or leave the Monos compression panel. I’m not totally convinced how much it helps—it may just take up valuable packing space. In fact, while researching for this post, I realized it’s removable… so I might just do that.
The Level8 Voyageur 20” has a major clean-lines moment when you open her up. Both sides feature simple zip covers that keep everything secure and tidy. And here’s where that wide trolley handle design really shows its benefits: each half has a smooth, flat base to pack on. Chef’s kiss!
Interior Winner: Level8 Voyageur 20”
Long-Term Durability
I’ve only traveled once with my new Level8 Voyageur 20” luggage, but after a weekend rolling around New Orleans, it still looks brand new. After reading through some of the nearly 1,500 reviews, many say they’ve had this bag for years and still love it. Similar phrases kept popping up in the reviews—workhorse, solid construction, smooth wheels, and yes… DURABLE!
I’ve touched on long-term durability a few times in this post, and I’ll say it again: Monos has passed my durability test with flying colors. I can only speak to my own experience in this category. The zippers, wheels, and telescoping handles are still in great working order on all four of my Monos Carry-On Plus bags after three years and counting.
So until I’ve put the Level8 through a few more airport sprints and city streets, Monos gets the win by default.
Level8 vs Monos: Final Thoughts
So…Level8 vs Monos—who wins?
Honestly, it’s pretty much a toss-up at this point. But if I had to choose a winner today, it’s Monos—by a trolley sleeve.
I really want to go all in on the Level8 Voyageur, but until they offer more bag options that work with that extra-wide trolley handle, I can’t fully commit. That said, I will be grabbing the Level8 Voyageur on my next big trip—which says a lot. I’ll be testing out the Level8 Urban Backpack in combo with the Voyageur 20” on our 3-week Japan/Hawaii trip in June. So, we’ll see if I can be converted into a backpack person.
Level8 does offer other luggage with a standard center handle, so if you love the brand but aren’t sold on the extra-wide design, you’ve still got options.
At the end of the day, you really can’t go wrong with either of these carry-ons—it just comes down to what matters most for the way you travel.
Sneak Peek
If you’ve made it all the way to the end, you deserve a look at my new Level8 Urban Backpack setup. This bag fits securely onto the extra-wide trolley handle of the Level8 Voyageur 20”. I can’t wait to see how it performs on our upcoming trip—stay tuned!
