4 pieces of luggage you need to survive any trip

When you’re traveling and on the go, the last thing you want to worry about is an issue with your luggage. Getting luggage back with broken wheels, broken zippers, or torn fabric is my personal travel hell. Although those moments built character, I’ve been through them enough times to know I needed to invest in better luggage.

This post is all about the best luggage I’ve found that will get you through any trip!

What’s it take to be considered the best luggage?

On my journey to find better luggage I was looking for bags that:

Didn’t break the bank
Were reliable, had a proven track record
Hard-shelled (it was time to retire my cloth luggage)
Had built-in TSA locks
Looked stylish, had a minimal look/feel

From this list, my research brought me to two popular contemporary luggage brands – Monos and Away. I appreciated that both of these brands focus on sustainability and use recyclable materials in their products. After taking a closer look at both brands and watching reviews – I decided to opt for Monos.

I did not want the built in-battery in Away that would take away from the packing capacity. I would rather carry my compact portable power bank. Monos also had a better-designed interior for my packing needs. Spoiler alert: these bags did not disappoint!

1. Best Carry-On: Monos Carry-On Plus

For my carry-on, I went with the Monos Carry-On Plus in Desert Taupe for the extra capacity compared to the standard model. When my bag arrived, I also received an antimicrobial laundry bag, two shoe bags, and a vegan leather luggage tag.

Switching to this carry-on from my beaten-up purple cheetah print (it was easy to spot okay?) cloth suitcase carry-on was a huge upgrade.

I was shocked at how much this little thing could carry. I could easily fit a blazer, 3-4 pants and skirt options, 4-5 tops, and a dress on the zippered cloth side of the suitcase. On the opposite side, I could fit a toiletry & makeup bag, jewelry case, make-up brush case, 2 crossbody handbags, travel-size steamer, and 2 pairs of heels for a work trip.

I’ve used exclusively this carry-on for several trips ranging from 3 to 7 days using these packing hacks.

2. Best Check-In: Monos Check-In Medium

I decided to get the matching check-in bag for longer trips. This size is definitely big but not overwhelming. It was perfect for a 7-day trip to Hawaii where I shared it with my boyfriend. The light nude color of this suitcase was easy to spot in a sea of black and blue suitcases coming down the carousel. In this suitcase, we comfortably carried larger items like his shoes (he is a size 13), all of our outfits for the trips, beach wear, gym clothes, and toiletries.

The outer shell is also super hard and durable with a TSA-approved lock. This left us worry-free about how our bag would be handled. 6 long-haul flights later and it still looks amazing! Both the carry-on and check-in bag came with dust bags for storage.

3. Best Overnight/Personal Item Bag: Béis Convertible Mini Weekender

The Béis Convertable Mini Weekender is the ideal personal item for anyone that takes way too much stuff with them on the plane like me. Don’t be fooled by the minimal design. This bag is spacious, laptop friendly, and has a unique bottom compartment. There are also wide and comfortable shoulder/crossbody straps for easy carrying. What’s even cooler is that the bottom compartment is completely removable! Converting this bag from carry-on to a functional casual tote you can use on your trip. I love how the top opens wide, making it easy to pack and even easier to see everything inside.

4. Best Work Laptop Bag: Beis Mini Work Tote (Black Croc)

If you ever have to travel for work – the Béis Mini Work Tote is the computer bag you need. I was gifted this bag for Christmas last year. This was my introduction to Béis and man I did not realize what I was missing out on!

This tote is extremely functional, organized, and stylish. I personally have the Black Croc color and am obsessed with how it looks. I use it regularly as my everyday work bag when I work in the office. The outer back pocket doubles as a trolley passthrough to easily attach this bag to your carry-on luggage and voila! You are traveling for work in style.

Worth the investment?

Based on my experience so far – absolutely. My luggage looks amazing, is extremely easy to maneuver, durable, safe (lockable), and seems as though it will last me for years and years to come. The inside structure also keeps my bag organized and easy to pack.

The one downside is that my Monos bags do show scuffs and scratches pretty easily because I got a light beige color. Monos luggage comes with a cleaning sponger that makes it easy to buff these away. I do this whenever I get back from a trip to keep my luggage looking fresh. This can probably be avoided though if you opt for a darker color.

These luggage essentials will have you traveling like a pro! Let me know if you have tried any of these brands in the comments.