Converting an old Mtb to drop 'bars – what shifters

I am converting my old kona cinder come to drop bars . The ones I have knocking about are oversize

I was planning to use the thumb shifters I have, but they don’t leave enough room for my hand when the lever is parallel to the bar, and I can’t move them further in due to the bulge in the middle of the bar

any ideas what shifters to use ? (8 speed by the way). Thinking Microshift trigger shifters would leave more
Space? Or possibly road style integrated brake / gear levers but I don’t know if there are any which are v brake compatible?

Cheers charlie

I use bar end shifters, always been happy with them,once you get used to them – do you spend most of your time riding on the hoods?

I’m sure STI shifters will work with Vs with a travel adjuster though

No MTB bar ends or thumbies will work without bodging – the clamp is the wrong size (22.2 versus 23.8 fro road bars) You need either 8 speed STIs or bar end shifters. My preference would be for bar end shifters, both for brake compatibility as well as general reliability and function.