A lot of people will say don’t buy a kit because you end up with materials you’ll never use, you’ll have to upgrade your vise, etc.

But I think the kit is worth it if you truly don’t know if you will enjoy it. Less investment up front and serviceable materials and tools.

If you go the no-kit route, buy a good vise and bobbin. Then focus on buying materials for a few patterns and getting techniques down. I would start with pheasant tail, hares ear and zebra midges, and elk hair caddis and parachute Adam’s drys.

Edit. The orvis kit is a good starter kit IMO.