Shot with all the gear mentioned in this post.
When you're new to photography, one of the first things you do is check out some popular photographers to see how they shoot. Learning how they use their camera and gear. What settings they use. But, the only thing you take away from the whole lesson is what gear they use and it makes you want to buy it. This is evil. There are quite a few photographers that come to mind when it comes to selling you certain products without making it an obvious advertisement. I was a sucker for this for a while. It's evil. It's evil because most of the time, you go and spend hundreds of dollars on whatever equipment you saw your favorite photographer use and you get it, bring it home, and sometimes you have no idea what to do with it. Some people try and then give up, toss it in the corner, let it collect dust for months or years. Maybe even forever.
If you ever find yourself falling into that trap, please... dig up that gear from the ashes and learn how to use it. Get obsessed in making it work. Keep at it. Get creative. If you don't quite get how to use it like that photographer, then use your imagination on how you can use it in a different way. Ask someone who may know how to use it. Heck, ask me if you want!
One of the first things I've bought because of a photographer was an Elinchrome black velvet background, Elinchrome 24" softbox along with a Nikon SB-900 and a fancy Manfrotto lightstand. Expensive stuff. Why did I buy Elinchrome and Manfrotto when there were many cheaper alternatives? Because that's what that pro photographer used and I needed the best gear. Did anyone show me how to use it? No. Did I watch anyone show me how to use it other than watch the photographer in a video use it? Yes. Did it really help? Nope. When I first tried it, all my photos looked like crap. Overexposed. Underexposed. Repeat. It was bad. But, I kept at it, and before I knew it, my photos were looking like the pros! (almost. sorta.) My wife's photo from the Eyes. post was one of the first photos I shot with that gear. It only took lots of keeping at it, and my wife's patience.
What I've learned is: you don't always need the best gear. Most of these brands are all the same. Umbrellas, softboxes, backdrops. Mostly the same thing. One brand's softbox is not gonna give you better results than a cheaper softbox. The build quality may be better. But, your photos from the $25 softbox won't look any different from a $100 one.
Don't give up. Your gear needs you.