The standard Shimano 8 speed 11-13-15-18-21-24-28-32 works fine for me. If I'm topping out a hill in the 32 I don't like much of a jump when I'm ready to shift up. The 28 makes for a good small step. I prefer that to the 34 which shifts up to a 26.

The endless addition of another cassette cog by the bike industry seems to be a solution looking for a problem. I had just as much fun in the 60's touring on a 5 speed freewheel with half step + granny chain rings as I do now on an 8 speed cassette with wider spaced outer chain rings. I also have 7/8 speed bar end shifters so that cassette is compatible. Deore XT MTB derailleur but any of their lower end models should work fine.