For the sake of my knees ... I have various issues with them from time to time ... I ride with gearing so low most cyclists could climb walls.
I have a triple, and my low is either 26 or 28. I think it's 26. The large ring in the cassette is either 32 or 34. And there are hills I can only get up when I'm in the lowest of the low ... especially when I've got a load on the bicycle.