This is the thread you should read:
Personally I find that I only barely injur my knees whenever I fall, so I don’t wear knee pads. And unless I’m doing a new route / new board / riding fast, I might ditch the kevlar hoodie too. Gloves I wear almost always though, because even on small / goofy falls your hands get fucked up without them. And of course, if I don’t have a helmet I don’t ride at all.