David Megginson nobody wrote:

A clipboard that straps to your leg is nice,
since you won't have to worry about dropping
it. I also keep the pencil tied to it with a string,
so that I can just pull it up again if I drop it. You
probably don't have to worry about one of those
fancy, multi-fold boards -- you just want something
with a leg strap and a spring clip at the top to hold
paper.

I think the first things I bought were a sectional, a TAC, and an Airport
Facilities/Directory.

Tying the pen or pencil with a string to your clipboard is one of the best
pieces of advice (having dropped mine when I needed it with an instructor who
was not about to pick it up!!)!! I *do* like the the "fancy, multi-fold board"
though, because in addition to having the paper to write on, you have the two
side pockets to put things in and clip things to, like a chart, checklists,
etc.