I too am a noob and was equally overwhelmed and excited about the level of information available. You will find that everyone here has an opinion about the best setup and equipment. I personally just bought the Warbonnet Blackbird XLC with the Superfly tarp and I'm now considering my choices for insulation. One thing that someone noted in a previous post was to make sure you try your hammock out in the back yard before you take it on a trip. I can't agree any more with this suggestion. I have mine hanging in the basement now and quickly found that I need a crash course in knot tying as well as other skills. Regardless, have fun investigating your options!