I have been shooting and hunting for years, but I just bought my first AR.  I plan to put a vertical grip on the forearm, and like the idea of the combo laser/led configuration.  The only issue is the price.  The Crimson Trace is nearly $600.  I am curious if anyone has had any success or experience whatsoever with the Amazon and eBay models that are under $100?  They are made in china, but out of aluminum, and seem to get good reviews on there, but I want to know if anyone on here has used one.  I am a high end accessory guy on my hunting gear, but in this case, I am really curious if these things are worth looking at.  Thanks for any first hand input.  I am already well aware that "you get what you pay for", so please limit it to direct knowledge on the subject.  Every once in a while, you run into something that exceeds your expectations.  I am hoping this might be one of them.  Thank you for any insight.

Especially for low-use applications on a heavier rifle, a LED is a LED. But cheap lasers tend not to be durable or hold zero well. If you want to try cheap, do it on the light, but spend a bit of coin on the thing that actually has to hold a zero through recoil and a few bumps around.

That is SOLID advice, and I could not agree more.  I am going to contact the seller of the unit I am considering and see what they have to say about it holding zero.  If they are convincing enough, I will give it a shot.  Otherwise, I will get a vertical with LED only, and add a laser later with a pressure pad for the handle.  I have two Surefire Nitrolons.  It would be great if there was a vert handle that had a provision large enough for one of those.  They are fat as hell though, so I will have to look into it.

FAB Defense / Zahal should have something along those lines. Nitrolon is still a 1" light body, right?

Looked into it.  The nitrolon will need a led conversion and mount.  I am going to go with a combination Vertical and LED.

http://store.commandarms.com/products/FGA.html

Combine that with a Malkoff module, and a cheap aluminium head off eBay, and you;re right at $100 total for something quality.