Battery grip or just a 2nd battery?

[DrHarmony]

I have a cheap third party grip and quite like it. (Mieke)
I will feel real dumb if the plastic gave out and thousands of dollars went down the tube all for a 150 bucks.
Other than that, I am happy with it. I have had none of the issues stated in posts that tear these third party grips apart.

For me, I normally do not have batteries in it at all. I use it because it is easier to hold the camera as I have big hands.
One benefit is that you have the option to use AA batteries as well.
This has proven to be essential to me in the past when I was on a ten day trip with no power, but places to purchase batteries were always available.

I bought mine used from Kijiji in Canada. The sell on ebay for 50-100 bucks quite often as well.