Originally Posted by Bonzo Banana

7 days bikepacking is a long time on the bike and more likely to be loaded heavily and get damage and need to be durable so I would of thought steel would also be a good option especially for comfort. I personally wouldn't consider carbon fibre. If you want a competitive frame weight but still high comfort and a durable frame then perhaps titanium. It's all down the bike as a full package though any frame material could be acceptable for that purpose. Maybe compose a shortlist of possible options and then think about each bike for all the uses you intend to use it for. You clearly want a fairly versatile bike rather than a bike that excels in one area only.