I toured from Vancouver to San Francisco on a compact 50/34, 11/36. Self supported with tent, sleeping bag and portable cpap machine. In addition, I'm a big guy! A lot of mashing, though by nature, I'm a spinner. Didn't have to walk the bike once. My son who went with me had a touring triple. I spent hours watching him spinning in front of me, coveting a touring triple.
When I got back I quickly converted to a Sugino touring triple. This summer I went from Quebec City to Perce on the Gaspe Peninsula, same gear self supported. Lots of 15+% grades. Even with the triple I had to walk. One young buck has a compact road double and I can't count the times he said that he had to get a triple.
I think it matters a lot on where you are going, how much you are carrying, both luggage and dead weight, and the size of our engine.