You can basically pick any race and still reach 188 STR / 205 STA.
Having a fungi is great for soloing or when you get hit in groups.
The most important gear factor while leveling besides that are going to be haste and main hand piercer damage.
If you have a CoF, it has 36% haste which is the highest you can get on tradable gear. That would work until epic.
SCHW is a good bargain option, but only 22% haste.
For weapons, the best bargain choice is
Frozen Shard
Ignoring Salindrite Dagger and Horn of Hsagra, other good choices would be
Exquisite Velium Spear,
Rabid Chokidai Fang,
Serpent's Tooth. Just anything with 13/14 damage or about a .5 dam/delay ratio. I'd recommend avoiding weapons faster than 20 delay, though, because you'll end up tanking.
Some other random gear suggestions:
Phase Spider Carapace
Dragon Tooth Choker
Tribal War Boots
Orc Fang Earring
Poison Washed Spaulders
6/65 rings