With the exception of plate armor Shamans are able to wear any armor in the game. They can equip shields and use daggers, axes, maces and fist weapons. Two-handed maces, axes and staves are not a common sight, as most Shamans either carry a shield or an off-hand weapon.
Both Elemental and Restoration Shamans emphasize spell power, intellect and haste rating on their gear. While Elemental Shaman should get some hit rating Restoration Shamans should get a few items with mana regeneration. Spirit however is of no use to a Shaman. Nevertheless some Shamans will still get cloth or leather armor if they provide an upgrade - much to the dismay of the usual cloth wearers. Enhancement Shamans might only anger the Rogues and Feral Druids if they use interesting leather armor pieces. Most of the time they will prefer mail armor, as it has just the stats the Shaman wants: agility, attack power, crit- and hit rating, haste and armor penetration. These stats greatly improve the Shamans damage and the intellect on his gear is useful, as they do some of their damage with their shock and lightning spells. This causes a gear competition with Hunters, but with the exception of Holy Paladins every class and spec has someone who needs the same gear.
Elemental Shamans have a hard time with their gearing as most mail armor is lacking in hit rating. Since they still need some of it this has to be made up with rings and other jewelry, or fall back on cloth armor. One advantage for them is the new spellpower fist weapons. Only Druids and Shamans are able to wield these making the competition on these weapons rather small.