[cowbyfan1]

I feel the chest protector is most important. So many of the masks are too similar as long as you do not go too cheap. I personally use the hockey mask and love it as it takes and absorbs all of a foul ball shot and you will not feel a thing. Can be a little loud but not as bad as getting hit in the head with batting helmet on. The hockey mask usually have more foam that absorbs some of the sound.

chest protector I use the gray Wilson and the Cooper UMP1000. Depending on how tall your are will somewhat determine a 13, 13.5 or 14 inch protector.

Shirts, If you use bicep protectors on your chest protector, then avoid Honigs shirts. They are good shirts but the sleeves are a little shorter and will not cover the bicep protectors. Use Cliff Keen shirts with them.

Pants I use combos for plate and then I have base pants. Some plate pants can still look like bell bottomed, even with shin guards on.

Shin guards get some that come up over the knee for certain.

Shoes I use Honigs high tops plate shoes. Very light and awsome in protection. You want steel toes, not fiberglass like some of have.
Field shoes I actually use Reeboks NFL shoes. I call football as well and I get a new pair for that season. I then use them for my base shoes. They have the best traction for all surfaces compared to any other base shoe I have seen. You can get them in all black or with some white on them.

One thing not mentioned is your indicator. I use a 4 dial (balls, strikes, outs, inning) and I get one with bigger numbers. Some fields are not lit all that great and the small numbered indicators can be a pain to see. Ball bags I prefer ones that open easily with not too deep secondary pockets for your brush, indicator and pen/pencil. Some bags, these pockets go all the way down in and it can be a pain to get your brush or pen out. Honigs are my prefered there.

As mentioned before Honigs, lesters or the referee call out of Oklahoma City are good. Pos make some good stuff but unless they have cleaned up their customer service issues, I would avoid them. You maybe ready for retirement before you get something you order thru them.