Dakota82, Surly basically stepped up to the touring plate with a catchy name to define an affordable touring bike, fit for loaded touring at a time when most of the major manufacturers were scaling back, or ceasing touring frame construction. There are other brands available, but the LHT has cornered the affordable touring market.

Years ago I fell in love with Bruce Gordon's bikes and decided I'd buy one when my interests turned that way. Unfortunately the economy fell through the floor when "the time came" so I built one from a used Cannondale, a manufacturer I've had two decades of experiance with. (Yes, it is sad that a company who's bicycle production began with a touring frame no longer produces one.)

Bottom line is there is perhaps a couple of dozen makes and models of new touring bikes available (discounting customs) available in N. America, Surly is just one of them.

Brad