Just started thumb picking through Tommy Emmanuel's course.
So, I bought cheap HB acoustic, fancy Martin strings and few thumb picks. Pros: Geipel is available in different sizes and materials. It has measurement in mm shown, so you can check your thumb with ruler to make sure it will fit nice, and this is big deal for online buying. It is very ergonomic and gentle to strings. I was thinking I will hate bronze touching steel strings, but it gives some special character to guitar sound - sharp open sound similar to nail strum. Cons: Only problem I see is that it's not elastic. But I broke few elastic ones trying to unroll them some more for my large thumb :) so maybe it is not con at all. If you have issues with regular ones try these, it my turn to be your favorite or your special ones.