I'm a newbie to tying as well and one piece of advice I would give is to buy high quality whether you buy capes or saddles. I would reccomend that you buy a 1/2 Cape of Brown and Grizzly to start. Saddles are apparently great but I like having a variety of sizes depending on what I am tying. A couple of weeks ago I bought a 1/2 Cape of Brown and Grizzly from Whiting and the difference is night and day compared to some of the "cheaper stuff" I started with. I guess this sport/hobby is like so many others in that you get what you pay for. I have heard nothing but good things about Conranch as well so I would put these two brands at the top of your list.

Tom