I figured I'd post a review of my current track set up, and so i can show off some poser pics
Group photo at our first track day of 2013
What my current get up looks like. Excuse the shit ass tape job, I was too lazy to slap on my race fairings that weekend.
Suit: Alpinestars Atem $1499
I'm 5'9", 165lbs and wearing a size 52/42 in the suit and it's by far the most comfortable 1-piece I've ever ridden in. Prior to this I had similarly priced Dainese and RS-Taichi suits but none of them felt this damn good. The leather is very supple and the huge stretch panels in the back are great for mobility on the bike. I don't feel as constricted when hanging off the bike and it just makes everything more comfortable as a whole. Compared to the Dainese Avro I wore (and crashed in) last season, this one has external elbow and knee protection, which I'm not sure contributes to added safety but definitely looks more bad ass. The Atem also has a removable under liner that can be washed and cleaned after those sweaty track days, which is a nice added feature, but I wear base layers so it's not an issue for me. Overall I think the Atem is a good suit for this price range. Sure enough you can get suits that do the job just as well or have even more features at a lower price, but I'm a huge brand whore and I need to look cool even if I'm moving at a snail like pace on the track
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Helmet: Arai RX7 Corsair $800
Not really anything to say about this helmet that everybody doesn't already know. Top of the line from Arai. Extremely comfortable, well vented, best build quality bar none. I've had this helmet since the summer of 2009, and it's served me for 30,000km on the street and currently on its 2nd track season. I have 3 helmets all within the same price range as this thing but I keep coming back to the Corsair because it's just that damn good. The plan is to replace the Corsair with the AGV PistaGP or Corsa when the 2013 Rossi graphics come out near the end of the year... If the helmet is really as good as they say it is.
Gloves: Dainese Full Metal Pro $349
I was hesitant to get these gloves because they're ridiculously expensive. However I've read horror stories about Alpinestars GP Pro's and the rate at which they deteriorate so I decided to just go balls deep and pull the trigger. I was so sad when I first got them because they were really stiff and hindered my wrist movement. But eventually they broke in and softened up and I never looked back. I crashed in these at turn 3 in Portland and the pinky finger mold/protector held my pinky in place, and prevented an almost certain fracture or sprain. Sweet gloves, but definitely expensive.
Boots: Alpinestars Supertech R $449
Hands down the best boot money can buy. These make the Sidi Vortice ($495) feel like a POS. The Supertech R hugs onto every part of your foot while offering incredible ankle support without hindering movement and dexterity. I crashed in these in Portland as well and they held up wonderfully. A bit of a pain to put on especially if you wear Dainese leathers (because of the added shin guard in Dainese suits) but that's the case with any top tier race boot.
Spine Protector: Forcefield L2 Kevlar $149
Much comfier and thinner than the hard spine protectors made by other manufacturers. The energy absorbent material is CE2 rated, and is better at absorbing and dispersing energy than pretty much anything else on the market right now. On top of that, the spine protector can be re-used due to its lack of a hard outter shell and won't break after a big crash.