The tree climbers companion, Ansi standards and better to work with
a pro for sometime.
+1!!!!
The tree climber companion is a MUST have!!! Learning to climb on you're own is VERY hard, trust me!! If you can donate some labor and work with a company/climber you will learn a lot faster, easier, and safer. I can read a book on knots all day, but having someone there to show me gets me going a lot faster. I had a heck of a time learning footlocking!!
Keep the gear simple right now, stick with a Blakes or a VT and forget about the micro-pulley/hitch tender systems. It's costly and makes it even more frustrating to learn. Get the basics down, THEN look at what would make an improvment for you're style.
I climb on Arborplex, it's hatted by most, it's cheap and wears like a mother, but it's slick. I use a beeline split tail for my hitch, the Arborplex on Arborplex hitch wasn't working to well for me, I'm big, and it's slick.
One 'Biner, and a Buckingham saddle. It's inexpensive, but I find it comfortable and it fits me nicely.
If you have a Vermeer store near they carry or can get anything Sherril has and you can try it beore you buy it. That is VERY important with a saddle!!!
And yes, get some new gaffs for climbing, and only use gaffs for TAKE DOWNS!!!
You will also want a bull rope for rigging and lowering.
You can expect a minimum of $400 to get set up, WITHOUT gaffs.
Good luck, and be careful!!! The best advice I got was "Slow and low" when learning!