New here, from Pennsylvania.  Eyeing up my first bikepacking build,..surly ECR or Troll.  Big things to come! 

So, have seen several thoughts floating around, and one from the local bike shop when tinkering with which way to go when building up a Surly to do some bikepacking and possibly light expedition biking with, where the size 26" is slowly going the way of the Do-Do.  I know Surly keeps it alive with the Troll, and a few I've come across (names escape me) but not may as it seems 27.5 is the new 26??  (or so I've been told, maybe wrongly so??)

So, I'm looking for knowledgeable  input into this.  I'm a shorter rider (5'-7", just shy of 30" inseam) and I'm befuddled when it comes to the Surly ECR 27.5+ bike and the Surly troll??  I know the 26s I've had in the past have,..well,..pretty much rode like crap.  But the fear is, if ever I get a chance to go overseas (beyond heading up to Canada as far as biking outside the US goes), I have a feeling that unless the 27.5 gains more popularity in Europe, I'd be better off with a 26" troll?