I did a series of articles over at Improve Photography testing a ton of lighting equipment. I only wanted to test the basic stuff that starters would be looking at so it was mainly reflectors, umbrellas and soft boxes from different companies.
One of the first pieces of equipment I tested was the 5-in-1 Reflector from Impact. Overall, I was really impressed with the quality of the 5-in-1 Reflector. The material was thick and sturdy. I had no fears with being somewhat rough with the reflector as my kids have thrown it about . Moreover, the zippers were reliable. They were not the best zippers I have used, but they did not catch like you would experience with cheaper equipment and were easy to use. Most importantly, the reflector did a great job reflecting good quality light.
A decent reflector is a must for anyone wanting to get started in flash photography. I recommend avoiding the really cheap ones as the zippers won’t last long and the material may not be great. You can currently pick up the Impact reflector for under $50 at Amazon.
Be sure to check out all of our favorite lighting gear at our Recommended Gear Page.