Reddit reviews Heavy Duty Quick Release Front Vise

-The black case is Veritas' Cabinetmaker's Installation Kit
http://www.leevalley.com/us/wood/page.aspx?p=71776&cat=1,41504
It includes:
-Low-Angle Jack Plane w/ 2 blades
-3 Butt chisels
-Flush-Cut saw
-2 Japanese Milled-Tooth files (flat and half-round)

The shoulder plane is Veritas Medium shoulder plane
http://www.leevalley.com/us/wood/page.aspx?cat=1,41182,41192,48430&p=48430

Hammer is Thor with soft and hard face
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0001P0YF0/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o03_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

A set of 4 Veritas Super-Hard milled scrapers
http://www.leevalley.com/us/wood/page.aspx?p=32670&cat=1,310,41069

And last is Rockler quick release front vise
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001RH16O4/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o02_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I've been looking at vises recently. It seems like an odd gift but a great vice is really valuable. A key feature is that it's quick release. Here's one I'm looking at that has high reviews and is within the price point.

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B001RH16O4/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pC_nS_ttl?_encoding=UTF8&colid=EA8UFYDPE7JR&coliid=IUBSU3CI171VM

I used what is called a large front vice see link below and mounted some 2-1/2" thick hardwood for the clamping surfaces. Something like this would work well on a thicker bench. My bench is about 2" thick and I added a 1-3/4" block between the underside of the bench and the vice so that I had a nice deep throat on the vice.

https://www.woodcraft.com/products/woodriver-large-front-vise

Here is a link showing the wooden block.

https://www.amazon.com/Heavy-Duty-Quick-Release-Front/dp/B001RH16O4

You'll need a bench with a vise so I'd look for tools that help me build one. There are hundreds of bench designs around but IMO the most important things are that it's heavy and rigid and that the legs are flush with the front edge of the top. If you're serious about it you could ask for one of the books on bench design. I'm only familiar with Chris Schwarz's blue book, but I can recommend it.
For a vise, a standard metal quick-release like this would be fine. You could also go with this style which is easier to mount flush to the bench's edge.