The two factors that go into what makes it easier to climb are the size of the small ring up front, and the size of the largest cog in the rear cassette. The compact you tried might have had a bigger rear cassette.

The small ring on a triple is a 30. The small ring on a typical compact is a 34. With the same cassette on the rear, the triple will give you an easier gear for climbing. You can get similar gearing by putting a larger rear cassette on a bike with a compact, but if you had that same large cassette on a triple, it would be even easier gearing.

People prefer compacts because they believe that shifting is cleaner and more precise with only two rings up front, and they'll also save weight. "Racers" will look down at triples, although anything that make cycling more enjoyable is good in my book!