Protection

...as well as this guy at the opens, I'm becoming more interested in things that cover the face.

More over I'm interested to know what people are using for gloves and knee/shin protection. I've seen people wearing what range from MX gloves to huge chunky gloves, and some awesome looking knee and shin combo pads.

that foto makes me feel sick..

gloves are pretty essential because when you scratch your palms after a fall your grip is usually worse, this is why people are wearing them.
The hefty gloves are for people who REALLY don't want anything to get in the way of them playing on.
the question is 'how badly do you want to keep playing?'
thats the way i see it