Actually, physique has nothing to do with it...unless you're doing it all for the image. If you really want to do all that you need to build a proper base of strength.
The headgear and gloves can be bought at your local sporting goods store. If they're cheap and ****ty, you'll just have to buy again when they break. In my experience gloves last a long time. Headgear, like FF said, can flake and chip. But that's like TKD stuff. If you buy gloves and headgear made for boxing...ie, made for taking hits full contact, then you'll be fine. Quality, as you may imagine, comes pretty standard if people can get injured when they aren't. They're lawsuits waiting to happen. Look for headgear and glove TYPES. Various ounces of gloves, headgear with/without a mouth/jaw guard, etc.
As for brands, when was the last time you heard of anything else-- or seen anything else other than Everlast, Fairtex, Champion...etc? There is an oligopoly on fight gear.
You can buy lots of interlocking rubber/foam mats at any hardware store.
