With regards to the right gear to get, it all depends on your budget and type of batteries you want to run.
Generally, Lipo's are a bit more expensive initially, and so are the chargers, but they have a longer life than Nimh, and you don't have to discharge or balance them, just literally plug and play! You do however need an ESC that has a voltage cut-off.
Nimh are less expensive, but to get the most out of them, you need a ballancer or battery conditioner. There are so many out there it's not funny, so it's hard to decide.
Maybe if you suggest the budget for batteries and associated gear, a few of the others on here can suggest the best gear to get for them
