Does it come in black?

There's never been a huge amount of talk about Batman's boots.  Yet another little-attended part of the costume, Batman's boots has always been regarded as simply a part, or an extension of the suit itself.

Batman's Boots are essential to crime-fighting

That having been said, Batman's boots are an essential part of his crime-fighting outfit.  As the caped crusader swings through Gotham's treacherous terrain, dodging gunfire, knife cuts and various types of assault, the boots must be durable and comfortable.  Not to mention that the recent animated and Nolan film incarnations have begun to add various hidden gadgets inside and as part of the boots themselves.

This had me thinking quite a long time about the boots.  The original intent was to have a durable, stylish pair of boots that would fit both the bill and the budget.

Unfortunately, the process for tracking down the RedHead Front Zip 10" Waterproof Lined Rubber Boots had been notoriously difficult.  In fact, it was excrutiating to the point of absolute ridicule.

As an internet marketer myself, I must say that Bass Pro Shops has majorly failed in delivering in customer experience, satisfaction, and product availability.  The boots currently appear as a clearance item online, but every size is out of stock online, and the product is indicated to be available in stores only.

So I decided to visit my only local Bass Pro Shop to find the product.  After searching through the footwear section, and consulting two associates and a customer service representative, I was told that not only does the Vaughan Canada store not stock the product in question, but that they simply do not follow their own corporate website at all.

My friend in Mesa Arizona had pretty much a similar experience at his local store, finding nothing in either the footwear nor clearance sections, and was told that the product was not in stock when he called a day later.

Edit (18-Jun):  From an online support ticket...

Response (Debbie)06/15/2012 06:39 AM
Derek,
Thank you for contacting basspro.com. Your business is truly appreciated.I am sorry, however, this boot has been discontinued and is no longer available.
Best regards,
Debbie
Bass Pro Shops
2500 E Kearney
Springfield, MO 65898
1-800-BASS-PRO

All that trouble for one simple, lousy pair of rubber boots.



Bat Boots... Begins

After a few more searches and generally disappointing results, I ran into some dumb luck.  A local shoe store was holding a closing sale, and they carried a 10" nondiscript pair of black leather boots, allegedly made by a local footwear company.

I ended up bagging these at 50% off for $45 + tax, which is a little bit more than the cost of the RedHeads, but the fact that they are genuine leather, is more than worth that price.  It will probably need some kind of sleeve to extend the length of the boot, but they will do nicely I think.