For about a decade, I’ve been lugging around a bright orange Tommy Hilfiger carry-on. The bargain buy from T.J. Maxx has seen better days, but I hadn’t part with it because it had something I was struggling to find: a front pocket that fit my laptop.

That front pocket has proven to be indispensable several times over the years, giving me the chance to get the weight of my laptop of my shoulders while keeping it easily within reach. Even the bright orange color has won me over as it makes the suitcase easy to find on even the most crowded luggage carousel.

The fabric, however, lost me. Between present times and the existence of bed bugs, I knew I wanted a hard shell suitcase, just with a pocket large enough for a laptop. I finally found what I was looking for mid-pandemic — the Monos Carry-On Plus.

Update: My Monos Carry-On Plus has picked up a few scuffs I haven’t been able to get out, but wow has it held up. This suitcase has been to London, Paris, Nevis, Reykjavik, Amsterdam, Basel, Lucerne, Oslo, New York, Memphis, Washington, D.C. and more. I’ve taken it on planes, trains, buses and cruise ships. Its wheels can take everything from cobblestone streets to snow in the Arctic Circle, and I couldn’t be happier with this purchase.

The Basics 

The Monos Carry-On Pro Plus is 23 inches tall, 15 inches wide, and 9.5 inches deep. The interior measures 21 inches by 14.5 inches, and the suitcase weighs in at 8.4 pounds, about a half a pound lighter than a similar model from Away. 

Monos recommends this size suitcase for trips that are between three and seven days long. I’ve managed to live out of this suitcase for 17 days, but I find it’s best-suited for a 10-day trip.

The Monos Carry-On Pro Plus is on the larger size for a rollaboard carry-on, but it fits standard aircraft overhead bins. You may need to check it on smaller planes. The retail price for the Monos Carry-On Pro Plus is $345 to $382 depending on the color you choose.

What We Love 

The Monos Carry-On Plus has gorgeous lines and curves like its siblings. It’s made of unbreakable aerospace-grade polycarbonate and comes in a variety of colors ranging from Rose Quartz to Midnight Black. It really is a perfect combination of beauty and strength. 

I opted for a limited edition Terracotta, and I absolutely love the color. It’s not so bright that I start looking for my shades but still unique enough to stand out on a luggage carousel.

The suitcase’s padded front compartment can fit a 15-inch laptop, making it a great option for digital nomads on the move. The compartment has several pockets, making it easy to organize power cords, batteries, and other necessities. 

A telescoping handle offers four height settings and four 360 spinner wheels make this piece easy to maneuver even in crowded spaces. A compression pad helps maximize packing space in the main compartment, and a waterproof antibacterial fabric lines the interior. 

Unlike my other carry-on, a Delsey, this suitcase has a side handle that makes it easy to lift in and out of overhead bins.

This suitcase is also a lot of fun to unbox. It’s packaged inside a dust cover and delivered in a well-designed, easy-to-open custom cardboard box. There are matching shoe and laundry bags made from an antimicrobial material inside as well as a vegan leather luggage tag. 

What We Don’t Love 

The front compartment that makes it so easy to take the weight of a laptop off of your shoulders is set into the suitcase, meaning it cuts into the main packing compartment. This keeps the suitcase from tipping over but as someone who prefers to travel with only a carry-on whenever possible

The front compartment itself is 17 inches long and 11.25 inches wide, making it spacious enough for a MacBook Pro. But it’s only one inch deep, which makes it difficult to fit anything more than a laptop. 

This suitcase also isn’t expandable. That can make packing for the trip home a challenge, especially if you’re planning to shop your way across France like I did on one trip with it. And while some hard sided suitcases have a little more give to them, this one doesn’t. 

The Bottom Line 

The Monos Carry-On ProPlus is perfect for a long weekend and roomy enough that a savvy packer could live out of it for a week or more. It’s a functional piece of luggage that’s worth the money and worth adding to your luggage collection.