+1 to Bikemig. I would go for 1.5" tires on the Rockhopper if you are going to stay on pavement. The wider tires could be very useful if you're going to want to roll on dirt, but if not I don't see much of an advantage. If both bikes are strong enough for touring and you'll stay on the road it's mostly a matter of which is more comfortable for you and which feels best when fully loaded. I'd definitely load them both down and get a feel for each of them. The handling on a loaded bike is quite different, and if you do that, be sure to try them on some downhills. That's where things get dicey and handling becomes critical.