Surly, Trek, Soma....???? I'm overwhelmed; please help!

[paddleboy17]

You have alluded that you personally want to lose 70 pounds and your gear could weigh 70 pounds.  So that is an extra 140 pounds that your bike would have to deal with.  Call me narrow minded, but I think that is a lot to expect from a light touring bike.  The only heavy touring bike on your list is the Marakesh.  So at this point I would steer you towards a Salsa Marakesh. 

By the way, I have a Waterford and it is great.  I know someone that got a Co-Motion and it is fine too. 

[dkoloko]

Soma works, but there was significant road vibration and my close friend crashed badly on one and it was determined it was an equipment malfunction so I've kind of sworn off Somas.
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As I read the website, Soma builds with one exception frames not bicycles. "Equipment malfunction" would be by whatever components that were fitted on the Soma, by whoever did the build.