I use a chocolate-colored chess board, triple-weighted 3 3/4" chess pieces from House of Staunton (natural and black colors), a Chronos blitz clock (regular buttons), all in a black carryall tournament bag.
My backup set is an olive colored board with the game pieces (but in ivory/black color).
I have a nice wood set as well that is on a marble board. I also have several travel sets.
Unfortunately I don't have an ordinary normal chess set. A nice chess set is quite expensive. I've got accustomed to a computer 2D chess set and it became my favourite one. I think I play better on 2D board than on an ordinary 3D board. I don't know what about you, is there any difference for you on which board to play, but as for me it is more comfortable to play on 2D computer board. I think I can "see" a 2D board better that a 3D one. Here is my favourite 2D chess set:
I too typically use a vinyl tube set Alec 
I usually use 3 at the same time actually...kind of sad I know.
I have them set up as follows
1 1 1 1 1 1 1 2 2 2
1 1 1 1 1 1 1 2 2 2
1 1 1 1 1 1 1 3 3 3
1 1 1 1 1 1 1 3 3 3
All the 1's represent board one, all the 2's board two and all the 3's board three.
This allows me and my friends to work out alternative moves without having to screw up the main board when we're practicing. We've even devised a little blocking screen for more competitive practice. Once we get better at seeing the boards "in our head" I suppose we'll get rid of them...but for now it always makes people stop, scratch their heads and move along Granted they do that anyways, but still 
, but i like my Reykjavik II fischer-spassky set the most. it is well-balanced and the pieces are proportionate to each other.
I have a nice set made by Nigri, which is an Italian maker. It is hand painted alabaster in a medieval style. I like is because the pieces are people. The bishop is a hands-folded pointy-hat wearing bishop :) It came with a board where the pieces are kept underneath.
All that being said, I really want to get a nice triple weighted staunton set because I think nothing beats the classic lines of that style. I would prefer House of Staunton and wood but they get really expensive which is why I haven't bought one.
I can appreciate the 'pushing wood' comment. I am planning on building a board. There is a place near me that specialaizes in exotic woods. Once I decide on what woods to use (right now white maple and purple heart but it changes) I can get started. Should be a fun project.
Eric
She had no answer ofcourse. Besides , I could give an exhibition and use all my sets at the same time!
I don't own many sets worth talking about. I play online these days so I rarely play 3D...just at the holidays when my brother is in the mood to get embarrassed.
Oddly I am a very good woodworker with all the machinery to build whatever kind of set(s) I want. I just haven't gotten around to it yet. When I do I will make it a Staunton, not too large, probably of ebony and boxwood...the traditional woods from what I have read. I'd also like to try some rosewood, satinwood, various maples (tiger and birdseye,) and a few ofthe other exotics. Most of the "nice" boards I've seen online don't appear to be made of really nice materials...too bad.
I have often wondered what true chess lovers would spend on decent chess equipment. Do many of you look for nicely figured woods? Do you like to see truly hand carved knights? What would you spend?
Anyone?
John
I have about 15 sets most of which are old family heirlooms.Icome from a family of avid chess players and i have a old jauques of london chess set that my great grand father purchased many years ago(100+)My great grand father traveled alot and had the fortune to meet 3 world champions(lasker,capablanca and alekhine).From pictures taken with them it appears that my grandfather used the pieces i have refered to in these off hand games.
When i was first given them i used them alot.But one day my grandfather who had given them to me saw my friends on the high scholl chess team using them for blitz.I at the time had no knowlegde that these pieces were old or that it is possiable that 3 world champions may have played with them.needless to say that when my grandfather told me i rushed back to my living room and replaced them with another set i had.
How many chess sets do you have and what is your favourite and why?
I have a nice 'Staunton' design chess set called a 'Najdorf' set which is felted, double weighted and has black pieces made from sheeshamwood, with an 'Executive' board made from sycamore with a walnut border.
There's nothing quite like 'pushing wood' on a nice chess board. It beats clicking and dragging a mouse anyday!