I actually just hit up REI for the first time this past weekend(there isnt one near me yet, but coming soon).
The Randonee is a fantastic looking bike for the money. What you get new for under $1000 seems like quite a good package.

The Mazama looks well spec’d, but its an off-pavement bike.



You will be commuting mainly- so road/trail/sidewalk/pavement riding right? Is a 40mm tire that comes on the Mazama needed or would it be overkill and just heavy?

The dirt drops on the Mazama are funky looking, but provide a ton of position options to keep you from hand fatigue and back strain while riding for a long time.

If you think you will go off-pavement a lot on your commute or touring- perhaps the Mazama is the way to go. If your commute is full of bad pavement that will pinch-flat even 32s- perhaps the Mazama is the way to go.
If your commute pavement is typical and you will stay on pavement while touring- perhaps the Randonee is the way to go.


As for a rack- you can install that yourself. I just toss that out as a suggestion as if you are going to commute and tour with it, itd help for you to understand how it works and how it adjusts so when it needs to be adjusted while on a ride, you can do it quickly and confidently.
Racks arent too difficult as both bikes have points for them to attach. Itll just be 4 attachment screws and then loosening the rack adjustment points, leveling the rack, and tightening the adjustment points.
I have no idea how much REI charges, but it’s a rack- if you buy it from them they should install it for free. Maybe that’s unrealistic, but I certainly don’t think so.