For arrows you can go aluminium, carbon or wood or some kind of hybrid.
Wood arrows are highly variable, typically people buy many and sort them into the different spines. They need straightening every so often and they are effected by the weather. They are obviously more transitional but I would say the most expensive, the least durable and the least beginner friendly.
Alu arrows are cheap, straight and equally spined out of the box but can require straightening, especially if using on something other than a quality target that is easily to pull arrows from.
Carbon arrows are a bit more expensive than alu arrows but they are incredibly durable and never need straightening. They are smaller in diameter which helps on bows without a center cut and lighter which makes for better center of gravity which is never a bad thing.
As for picking a spine search for discussion on your bow, see what is working for other people. Use this as a starting point
http://www.3riversarchery.com/spinecalculator.aspIf you are shooting off your hand instead of your rest as you typically do with a horse bow feather fletchings are greatly superior to plastic vanes. If you are shooting with your fingers and are right handed, I would recommend left wing feathers or right wing if shooting with a thumb release.
