Looking at Hermes charts and it has convinced me to stay compact. By using a 34 as to a 30 I would only lose one gear by staying compact over the triple.

Now an observation- Same hill and it is a basket. I cannot climb it with normal double crank using a 39/25. I just ain't strong enough.

On the MTB- I use the lowest gear of 22/32 but this is a heavy bike and with knobblies.

On the OCR I use 30 /26 and find it hard.

On Boreas I use 34/27 and find it hard but no more than the OCR and speed is faster.

On the TCR I use 36/25 and find it no harder than Boreas.

Draw your own conclusions- You use the gears you have and when that lowest gear is found You either do it or walk it. I do not walk hills.