It sounds like regular old 1/2" (trade size; really 5/8") EMT conduit. That stuff is easy to work with. You don't need to make a Federal case out of it.
In simple runs with 0-1 bends, I like to tape the 3 wires together (staggered, with the longest bent slightly toward the middle so it resists hanging up on edges) and just push it through. That works more than half the time.
You can tie a string to a little scrap of plastic bag and use a vacuum cleaner to suck the string through. Then use that to pull through a stronger string (if that's even necessary) and then tape that to the wires and pull them through.
Don't scrimp on electrical tape when binding the tape to the wires. I like to have about 6" length binding string to one wire, then about that length binding to the other wires.
If you are buying fishing tape because you like to collect stuff, then buy nice fishing tape. It defeats the purpose of buying stuff if you buy crud and then have to replace it on the next job because the crud isn't good enough for the next job. The #1 thing you look for is non-conductive material, so when you are pushing the tape into a main breaker panel or other setup where part of the panel cannot be de-energized, you don't get a fireworks show when you push the tape into the hot conductors or if it slips out of your hands (or worse, doesn't :).
The tips are for tying onto various pulling implements and onto the pulling baskets that are used to attach to wires when you're pulling the big stuff. Other than that, the specs to look for are pulling strength.
