I have 29" hookworms and those tires are fantastic. While you mention that they don't do well in rain, I found the exact opposite to be true. Rain or shine, they get very good traction. I run these tires during the wet season, when the trails are always muddy and I'm not riding singletrack.

The tires are heavy, but if you're loaded down for touring then I'm sure you aren't counting grams. As a Krampus owner, I'm definitely not a weight weenie, and I love my hookworms. There are probably tougher tires out there with better puncture resistance, but the hookworm is still a good buy for its price.