OK ...when I first started , got myself a helmet, skate board style, and some inexpensive elbow n knee pads w hard plastic shells. My traction goals are strickly static and buggying. My 79 yr old Dad found a full face , think it's actually a snowmobile helmet($5 garage sale,like new). I'm certain there is a fair amount of guys out there with excellent experience in OBEing. In the event of the inevitable, should I consider body armor style protective gear, such as worn by motocross or mountainbikers. something with shoulder,chest, spine and tailbone pads all meshed into a shirt or jacket. What gets hurts the most when the OBE is executed properly.

depends on what you want to do and where you are going to do it. if you are just going to cruise then i'd say helmet (always a must) is probably all you need, once you have confident kite skills. If you plan to go fast or push your limits then elbow, knee, and a full face is a really good idea. if the surface is hard, like hard dirt, grass, playa, cement!, then plastic capped pads are a good idea for the extra protection and so that they dont get shreadded on your first fall. As or additional motocross gear, like spine support and hard shell chest; good idea if you plan to push yourself. i've seen a few people saved from losing meat thanks to those upper body pads. luckily for me the sand is pretty forgiving :D

absolutely YES on the body armor! I rolled my buggy last november and had to have surgery on my shoulder. I was out of commission for 5 mos. So ,YES get some 661 or rockgarden upper body armor. Oh, and I WAS on sand. Not as forgiving as you might think.....

My "playground" is pretty rugged and full of "lips and edges" to power up against. As such, I let myself get plucked out sideways nearly every session because I'm silly like that. I strongly suggest a hard panel jacket for all but the most conservative rides. Easy on, easy off, most have mesh panels for good ventilation and mine has saved my hide several times over. Check some of the MX/ATV gear retailers for close outs and overstock deals. Shin pads are a must for the desert but that's me, most get away with simple knee pads. Hockey pads would go a long way in the right direction to mitigate the bruising and discomfort of hip, buttock, tailbone impacts... but, it's just too freakin' hot to wear that much gear. If you can edge up hard, like to put the kite behind you while powered up or just love the idea of power sliding around a lot, plan to get plucked and pad up.

LEATHER GLOVES !!! Moving spectra is sharper than any Butcher's knife I've ever seen. Cuts right through double layer leather climbing gloves that were MADE specifically for rope work... I'm not sayin', I'm just sayin'

Heel stirrups. They allow me to relax my feet and if I'm going over bumpy ground, they prevent the foot from jumping off the peg and hitting the ground - which results in a badly broken leg when it gets forced underneath you. I've seen the photos and they're not pretty. Easy to fix yourself. I don't like the straps that go over the top of the foot - I've seen someone get tangled up in those but they do seem to be the most popular. And a buggy with nice high side rails - I have the Libre Vmax which just goes sideways if I muck up and let the kite get behind me.

dome protection is all i use... but ive only topped out at like 35ish..... if its good enough for a motorcycle tho, you are in good hands!

Some of the older guys are thinking about rib protectors. I have one as a couple of others do also.
Not sure as to the extent of others , but I have a QR that is self deployed if I leave the seat. I am unable to flex my balls enough to pull the pin before I go sailing as some of the others. Helmet is all I wear now with the QR. I'm sure this will create a few remarks.

Last fall at about 20mph I flipped the Rat. I came home and ordered body armour on line. I don't buggy with out it now. I was hurt bretty good.