Mountain Research and Reebok Put A Second Spin On the Alien Stomper
News on this release was originally published on January 13, 2022.
Update (February 14, 2022): Mountain Research and Reebok's second Alien Stomper colab has received a release date! It'll be dropping exclusively on the Mountain Research webstore March 1 before a global arrival on March 15. The MSRP is set at $180. 'It's a great honour to arrange and design for Reebok's classic Alien Stomper', said Mountain Research founder Setsumasa Kobayashi.
See our original article on the sneaker – as well as a 'where to buy' guide – directly below!
Mountain Research and co-created is the product of a cult favourite brand meeting a cult classic sneaker. Created by Reebok designer Tuan Le for Ridley Scott's 1986 sci-fi epic Aliens, the Stomper was made famous by Sigourney Weaver's Lt. Ellen Ripley and Lance Henrikson's Science Office Bishop – and serves as one of the first examples of an iconic movie sneaker, three years before now-iconic starred in Back To The Future II and a full decade before escapades in Space Jam. It's a piece of movie magic and Reebok brand history, one with a niche, cult following just like Mountain Research.
An outdoor-geared Japanese brand founded by Setsumasa Kobayashi in 1994, Mountain Research have released a handful of collaborations with Reebok since beginning their partnership in early 2020. Though they first garnered acclaim for a crampon-inspired take on the and a two-tone , their most buzzy colab was their first Alien Stomper, an all-white version with 'instructions' printed on its upper. Now, they've repurposed that design and are set to release it again in black.
The Alien Stomper's signature ribbed tongue is covered by a large forefoot strap and a smaller ankle strap, with the former reading 'Keep Strapped to Hold Firmly' on each side. More tongue-in-cheek instructions can be seen on each side of the top strap, with the lateral half reading 'Keep In A Safe Place When Removing' and the medial side stating 'Fold and Turn Over After Going Through Eyelet'. You can't say you don't understand how the shoe's fit system works, that's for sure! Finishing touches are served up by an 'I've Never Been To the Moon' hit on the heel, ridged detailing on the tongue and Mountain Research's pyramid-like graphic on the tongue badge.
At the time of writing, a release date for the Mountain Research x Reebok Alien Stomper in black is yet to be announced. However, one's likely to surface in the coming weeks. When it does arrive, you can expect to shell out $200 if you'd like to secure a pair.