Brandwave

Columbia vs The North Face:Which is more popular?

In September 2026, Columbia and The North Face were level in searches among outdoor jacket brands in Australia, with an estimated 2.9K branded searches each, at 5.7% of the total each. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about outdoor jacket brands, The North Face appeared in two of the five answers and Columbia in one. The North Face was mentioned before Columbia in every answer that named either.

Among outdoor jacket brands in Australia in September 2026

Who do people search for more?

Columbia and The North Face are searched for about as often as each other.

Columbia 2.9K searchesThe North Face 2.9K searches

Who does AI mention more?

The North Face, mentioned in 2 of 5 answers, Columbia in 1

The North Face in 2 of 5Columbia in 1 of 5

Who does AI recommend more?

The North Face, named ahead of Columbia in 2 of 2 answers

The North Face first in 2Columbia never first

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Top outdoor jacket brands in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews

In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, The North Face was mentioned in two out of five: not in any of the three ChatGPT answers, but in both Google AI Overviews. Columbia was mentioned in one out of five: not in any of the three ChatGPT answers, but in one of the two Google AI Overviews. The North Face was listed before Columbia in every answer that named either.

Most recommended by AI

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

  1. Patagonia1st
  2. Macpac2nd
  3. Kathmandu3rd
  4. The North Face4th
  5. Rab5th
  6. Mont6th
  7. Arc'teryx7th
  8. Columbia7th
  9. Mountain Designs–

Mentioned by AI

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

  • Patagonia4 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Kathmandu3 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • Macpac3 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • The North Face2 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • Arc'teryx1 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • Columbia1 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Rab1 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • Mont1 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • Mountain Designs0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers

See every answer about outdoor jacket 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 Columbia or The North Face more popular in search?

This chart shows how often people search Google for Columbia and The North Face by name. Each line represents a brand's share of searches for all nine outdoor jacket brands we track, month by month, from searches in Australia.

Columbia and The North Face among outdoor jacket brands in Australia, by month

Share of searches by month for Columbia, The North Face. The figures are in the table below the chart.

View monthly share of searches table
MonthKathmanduArc'teryxMacpacColumbiaPatagoniaThe North FaceRabMountain DesignsMont
Oct 202553.2%13.2%16.2%5.9%4.7%4.7%0.78%0.78%0.64%
Nov 202554.4%14%14%6.2%4.1%5%0.83%0.67%0.67%
Dec 202554.2%14.3%14.3%5.2%5.2%5.2%0.84%0.45%0.45%
Jan 202652.4%20.2%11%4.7%4.7%4.7%1.2%0.52%0.52%
Feb 202649.6%19.6%10.7%5.6%5.6%5.6%2.1%0.5%0.62%
Mar 202655.5%14.3%11.6%5.1%6.3%5.1%1%0.56%0.46%
Apr 202657%9.8%14.6%5.3%5.3%5.3%1.2%0.58%0.87%
May 202656.1%11%13.5%6%4.9%6%1.2%0.66%0.66%
Jun 202651.8%10.6%12.9%4.7%4.7%12.9%1.1%0.71%0.51%
Jul 202650.4%10.3%10.3%4.6%3.7%18.8%0.9%0.69%0.41%
Aug 202645.8%14%14%6.2%6.2%11.4%1.2%0.83%0.45%
Sep 202650.5%19.4%10.6%5.7%5.7%5.7%1.4%0.76%0.41%

How has the Columbia and The North Face comparison changed over the last 12 months?

3 findings
  • The lead changed hands once in the 12 months ending September 2026: The North Face took it in June 2026.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Columbia’s share of searches among outdoor jacket brands in Australia moved from 5.9% to 5.7%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 2.4K to 2.9K.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, The North Face’s share of searches among outdoor jacket brands in Australia moved from 4.7% to 5.7%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 1.9K to 2.9K.

How did search popularity change for Australia outdoor jacket brands in September 2026?

2 changes
  1. In September 2026, The North Face lost share of searches among outdoor jacket brands in Australia, from 11.4% to 5.7%.

  2. In September 2026, Columbia lost share of searches among outdoor jacket brands in Australia, from 6.2% to 5.7%.

How are branded searches counted?

2 search terms

Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Columbia’s and The North Face’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.

Columbia

1 branded search term

  • columbia jackets

The North Face

1 branded search term

  • the north face jacket

How the Brand Demand Index is measured

Other head-to-heads among outdoor jacket brands

Creator with pink hair and a pink jacket

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