Gear Ratios for Gravel Bike Bikepacking

I've seen articles talking about Gear Ratios for mountain bikes and 2x set ups but not much about 1x set ups on Drop bar Gravel Bikes

I've got a Kona Sutra LTD set up stock with a 36T up front and a 42T out back. On the Bikepacking Calculator I'm running a 24.85 ratio. I just rode the TD route from Canmore to Fernie into the BC trail from Fernie to Abbotsford. I got by but I'd like to be able to spin a little easier, as much as I love the 36T for punching it on tarmac that's not where my aspirations lie.

I'm thinking to go for a 34T (23.47) or 32T (22.09) though I'm worried going to 32T would make flat sections a drag, and if I need to be spinning that low I'd probably be walking, I'm just not sure 34T would be a big enough difference?

I know it's depending on riding aspirations and general terrain you ride. So I'll be riding mostly on backroads and single track of British Columbia so steep and sustained climbs are pretty common and I'm planning on entering the Silk Road Mountain Race for 2025 and maybe the Moroccan Mountain Race 2026. I don't travel Ultra light and minimalist, but don't carry a ton of stuff either eg I have a Copper Spur UL 2, an older down bag and I'm riding a steel frame. But I'd imagine I'll some decent gaps between resupply on those races which will require a bit more weight.

Hopefully that's enough info to get a bit of an educated guess from Reddit.