Brandwave

Adidas vs New Balance:Which is more popular?

In September 2026, Adidas had more branded searches than New Balance among running shoe brands in Australia. Adidas had about 9,900 branded searches, while New Balance had 8,100. Adidas made up 12.6% of all running shoe brand searches we track, and New Balance accounted for 10.3%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about running shoe brands, New Balance appeared in four of the five answers and Adidas in none.

Among running shoe brands in Australia in September 2026

Who do people search for more?

Adidas, about 22% more searches than New Balance

Adidas 9.9K searchesNew Balance 8.1K searches

Who does AI mention more?

New Balance, mentioned in 4 of 5 answers, Adidas in 0

New Balance in 4 of 5Adidas in 0 of 5

Who does AI recommend more?

New Balance, the only one of the two named

New Balance first in 4Adidas never named

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Top running shoe brands in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews

In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, New Balance was mentioned in four out of five: in two of the three ChatGPT answers and in both Google AI Overviews. Adidas did not appear in any of the five answers.

Most recommended by AI

Brands get a higher ranking if they are mentioned earlier in the answers.

  1. ASICS1st
  2. Brooks2nd
  3. New Balance3rd
  4. Saucony4th
  5. HOKA5th
  6. Nike6th
  7. On7th
  8. Adidas–
  9. Mizuno–

Mentioned by AI

Each dot is one answer, filled in when that answer mentions the brand.

  • ASICS5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • New Balance4 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • Brooks4 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • HOKA4 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Saucony4 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • Nike2 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • On1 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • Adidas0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • Mizuno0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers

See every answer about running shoe brands

5 answers

Not named in any answer:

Brands are shown in the order each answer named them. The survey took place in Australia on October 26, 2026.

Is Adidas or New Balance more popular in search?

This chart shows how often people search Google for Adidas and New Balance by name. Each line represents a brand's share of searches for all nine running shoe brands we track, month by month, from searches in Australia.

Adidas and New Balance among running shoe brands in Australia, by month

Share of searches by month for Adidas, New Balance. The figures are in the table below the chart.

View monthly share of searches table
MonthNikeASICSAdidasOnNew BalanceBrooksHOKASauconyMizuno
Oct 202527.5%15%12.3%15%12.3%6.7%6.7%2.4%2%
Nov 202530.5%16.6%13.6%11.1%11.1%6%7.4%1.8%1.8%
Dec 202530.1%16.5%13.5%11%11%7.3%7.3%1.7%1.7%
Jan 202630.5%16.6%13.6%11.1%11.1%6%7.4%1.8%1.8%
Feb 202629.8%16.3%13.3%10.9%10.9%7.2%7.2%2.1%2.1%
Mar 202626.6%17.8%14.6%11.9%11.9%6.5%6.5%1.9%2.4%
Apr 202623.1%15.4%12.6%18.9%10.3%10.3%5.6%2%1.7%
May 202619.9%13.3%10.9%24.4%8.9%13.3%5.9%1.8%1.4%
Jun 202615.7%12.9%8.6%35.2%7%12.9%4.7%1.7%1.4%
Jul 202624.5%16.4%13.4%13.4%8.9%13.4%6%2.2%1.8%
Aug 202627.7%18.5%12.4%10.1%10.1%10.1%6.7%2.4%2%
Sep 202628.2%18.8%12.6%12.6%10.3%6.9%6.9%2%1.7%

How has the Adidas and New Balance comparison changed over the last 12 months?

3 findings
  • Adidas was ahead of New Balance in every measured month of the 12 months ending September 2026.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Adidas’ share of searches among running shoe brands in Australia moved from 12.3% to 12.6%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 8.1K to 9.9K.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, New Balance’s share of searches among running shoe brands in Australia moved from 12.3% to 10.3%, and its estimated monthly branded searches held steady at 8.1K.

How did search popularity change for Australia running shoe brands in September 2026?

3 changes
  1. In September 2026, On overtook Brooks and New Balance to rank 4th among running shoe brands in Australia, with 12.6% of the searches.

  2. New Balance’s share of searches among running shoe brands in Australia has gained ground for 3 months in a row, from 7% to 10.3% in September 2026.

  3. Estimated monthly branded searches for Adidas in Australia rose 22.2% over 12 measured months, from 8.1K to 9.9K in September 2026.

How are branded searches counted?

2 search terms

Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Adidas’ and New Balance’s names. When viewed over time, estimated search volumes for these branded terms can be used to understand whether interest in the brands is growing, holding steady, or fading.

Adidas

1 branded search term

  • adidas running shoes

New Balance

1 branded search term

  • new balance running shoes

How the Brand Demand Index is measured

Other head-to-heads among running shoe brands

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