Getting ready to start flying for a living, what gear do you recommend?
Luggage, etc.... and any other tips that would be helpful for a new pilot.

This has been covered extensively on here, so do a little digging and you will find your answers. Much will depend on whether or not your carrier still requires you to carry paper manuals.

Headset: Bose QC 15 with the uflymike adapter is the best deal you'll find.

A big part of that answer is "Do you commute?" Commuting will tear your luggage up in a year. I would say, but the MINIMUM required for now. 2 company shirts and a pair of pants. Most of the company produced stuff is inferior quality to what you can buy elsewhere.

Get a cheap chart case--if your company requires it, and COSTCO luggage, which has a lifetime warranty. After you've been online awhile you'll figure it out. AND if you must have a cool pilot watch, for pete's sake don't buy it from the mall next to the training center!

Honestly, money is precious when you're on first year pay, don't buy what you won't really need. Your old headset should work fine. Depending on what airline/airplane, you may need a flight bag. You should also have a lunch cooler of some kind because *most* of us bring at least some food along. Some airlines (like mine) make you purchase your own uniform coat or jacket, so you'll need to consider where you might be flying in the winter and what you'll need to buy. None of this stuff needs to actually be purchased before you start ground school, though. Before you run out and buy a new bag, borrow or use an old bag for your first trip so you can evaluate the space your bag is going to have to fit in... I see it most often with new flight attendants, but pilots aren't immune, they buy a new bag and then it doesn't fit in the closet or overhead, which renders it useless. Everyone ends up with a different combination of "kits", because some people seem to need to bring half of their home with them. Start small, you'll figure out pretty quickly what you really need.

Luggage works is the most prevalent, and all the bags are designed to clip on to the suitcase (or the J-hook, if it's a flight kit). The comments about commuting are pertinent. A lot of dead-heading will lead to the same issue.

As for "gear," like I said earlier, if your company has EFB's, that changes everything. If you need to carry Jepps, you tend to find a way to fill your flight kit. You need a decent suitcase, the bag for your flight gear (headset, sunglasses, flashlight), and the food bag.

Everyone has their own little bag of "I gotta have this" stuff. Some of it's obvious, some of it gets on your list based on some experience.

You'll learn to pack for the length of the trip plus one day (or for 7 days if you're on reserve). You need underwear, white t-shirts (once worn, a white T can double as your gym/running shirt at the hotel), one pair of gym shorts, one pair of shorts (summer) or jeans (winter), 2-3 pair of white socks, uniform socks and 1-2 T-shirts. If you commute, carry a collared shirt so you can ditch the uniform shirt when the trip is done. As for extra uniform stuff, I stopped carrying pants years ago, but I always keep at least one shirt in my bag. One pair of sneakers, a minimal shaving kit, and a spare phone charger that never comes out of your suitcase at home will round out your collection. In the side pockets, I keep a small umbrella and a warm pair of gloves.

If your company allows leather jackets, get one. It'll be expensive, but it will last you the rest of your life, and will spare you the blazer or trench coat in the winter.

For many jets, a Telex 850 has enough ANR, will be cheaper and smaller than a QC-15/ufly and requires no battery. Depends on how loud the plane is and how much ANR you want.

Thanks for all the info! It does help a lot.
Ron

Buy a sturdy suitcase like the luggage works stealth, and nothing else. When you get to the line you'll figure out what you need and don't.