Dear Apollo soft box - I hate you

Anyone using the 28" apollo softbox get irritated with it? The quality of light isn't the issue for myself. The "umbrella bracket" it comes with is shotty. The rod attached to the softbox itself is constantly sliding out of it. It seems you can't crank down enough pressure on the bracket to get the rod to stay put 100% of the time.

I think that the rod needs to be heavy duty and the screw on the bracket needs the ability to be cranked down a bit.

Does anyone have this issue?

Has anyone enhanced their apollo softbox to overcome this issues?

I don't have the 28" softbox, but I do have the orb 43" octobox. Did you get that bracket that comes with the kit?

I also found that it's pretty awful, I don't even use it. I would just get a better bracket and save yourself some hassle.

i actually find the bracket pretty decent - will probably get a sturdier one when i get a boom to tilt the damn thing.

I have the Apollo Orb, but I did not buy a kit. I use a Lastolite triflash bracket:

http://www.bhphotovide​o.com …412_Triflash_Br​acket.html

It works fine and it lets me use 2 or 3 flashes if I want more flash power.

Use a pencil and get that into the rod, it makes for a pretty sturdy rod and can be fasten better. I also use a Manfrotto umbrella bracket instead of the supplied one, more expensive ($31) but does what I want and is super sturdy.

The angle of the umbrella bracket works alright? I thought it might throw off the angle of the speed light trying to hit the back of the box (the supplied bracket has a hole that isn't angled as the umbrella brackets are). I'll have to give this a try.