I was talking about the N+1 syndrome and touring bikes with the wife the other day – they’re the only bikes where we don’t lust after something else a bit more high spec or prettier/blingier. We just can’t see the point of having ‘nice’ (anything Ti, custom made, nicely finished etc. etc.), when it’s going to be left out in all weathers, lashed to railings on the ferry, thrown around by baggage handlers, hauled on and off trains, locked up in strange places and every other bit of abuse you could possibly throw at them.
We’ve notched up about 16 weeks of fully loaded touring (camping & cooking kit plus 10L water bladder for wild camps, no hotels or restaurants on our tours!) on 26″ wheeled Surly long haul truckers. They are bombproof, absolutely bombproof. Frame stays rigid even with 30kg odd of kit on, very stable even if you’re not using front panniers. Powder coated frame takes all the knocks no problems and looks suitably utilirian/uninteresting enough not to worry about theft, and then if it does go a bit pete tong it’s only £350 odd for a new frame/fork.
700c version will no doubt roll a bit quicker, and they are not in the slightest bit lightweight, but they will handle anything thrown at them if you spec them according to intended usage.