paco1961
Zen MBB Master
Shimano SPD below is my choice. There are multiple levels/price points. You can clip into either side. As you indicate, keeping tension as low as it will go is a plus, especially when getting started. When I ride gravel I ramp up the tension a bit to keep from bouncing out over rough terrain. I like the broader platform for the additional foot support. The other change I made from my road days is mounting the shoe cleat as far back as possible, approaching a mid foot placement. All the difference in the world. And as I've posted elsewhere, I use 1 cm pedal spindle extenders that have made a huge difference in stability and comfort.