I had a Marin Muirwoods commuter bike with an Xtracycle - it was great. However, for touring I went with the Surly Long Haul Trucker with front and rear panniers. The Xtracycle is wonderful for carrying big loads or going grocery shopping but here in the big city (San Francisco) the extra length can be a problem - it makes it harder to carry up and down winding staircases, harder to lock up, and not as good for extreme evasive maneuvers (for one thing you can't bunnyhop or wheelie). I also think the loaded touring bike handles much better when descending in the mountains due to the more evenly distributed weight. The main reason to get an Xtracycle is the ability to carry more weight or longer items easier (or a passenger)- if you wanted to tour with a surfboard, a kayak, or a cooler full of beer, then it would be the best choice. Otherwise, good old fashioned panniers work fine.