Helmet, gloves and a sense of immortality.

Actually, we're now required to wear a helmet here... though I was wearing one before they were compulsory and would rarely go without if not.
Having ripped a pair of gloves apart last time I went flying, gloves are smart.
The sense of immortality is probably as creaky as my body, my reflexes and... umm... that other thing that disappears when you get old... oh, that's right, you forget how much it hurts