Reebok’s Alien Stomper sneaker release sparks outrage

Reebok released the much-anticipated “Alien Stomper” sneaker on April 26, to a flurry of technical snags and viral anger.

The shoes, modelled after those worn by Sigourney Weaver’s Ellen Ripley in the 1986 sci-fi classic Aliens, sold out in under an hour on Reebok’s website, but that’s not what sparked debate and criticism from the sneaker-loving masses.

Immediately after launching online, shoppers saw a variety of checkout issues, reported CNBC, from the shoes being removed from shopping carts prior to checking out to a complete lack of availability.

Though the company originally advertised there were 426 pairs available (to correspond with the planet’s name, LV-426, in the Aliens films), Reebok’s Twitter announced earlier in the week there were actually only 36 pairs for sale in the United States.

To further anger fans, the shoe, though worn by the film’s heroine, was solely made in men’s sizes, causing confusion and an outpouring of criticism.

A spokesperson for Reebok told Gizmodo: “The Alien Stomper was mis-categorized on our US website as a men’s shoe. While size availability varied by market, the Alien Stomper is a unisex style and was produced in sizes (US Men’s) 3.5 – 12, which is a typical size range for a unisex model.”

For those wanting a pair of the futuristic, danger-stompers, eBay hosts a few pairs for considerably more than the initial $175 asking price.

Footwear News reported Reebok has also teamed up with Charity Buzz to auction off a pair of the high-tops for Soles4Soules, an organization that donates shoes to those in need.