KEEN vs Merrell:Which is more popular?
In September 2026, Merrell had more branded searches than KEEN among hiking boot brands in Australia. Merrell had about 4,900 branded searches, while KEEN had 1,590. Merrell made up 28.6% of all hiking boot brand searches we track, and KEEN accounted for 9.3%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about hiking boot brands, Merrell appeared in all four answers and KEEN in two. Merrell was mentioned before KEEN in every answer.
Who do people search for more?
Merrell, about 3 searches for every 1 for KEEN
Who does AI mention more?
Merrell, mentioned in every answer we collected
Who does AI recommend more?
Merrell, named ahead of KEEN in every answer
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Top hiking boot brands in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews
In three ChatGPT questions and one Google AI Overview, Merrell appeared in all four answers. KEEN was mentioned in two out of four: in two of the three ChatGPT answers, but not in the Google AI Overview. Merrell was listed before KEEN in every answer.
Most recommended by AI
Brands get a higher ranking if they are mentioned earlier in the answers.
Mentioned by AI
Each dot is one answer, filled in when that answer mentions the brand.
- Merrell4 of 4Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 1 Google answers
Salomon3 of 4Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 1 Google answers
SCARPA2 of 4Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 1 Google answers
KEEN2 of 4Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 1 Google answers
LOWA2 of 4Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 1 Google answers
La Sportiva2 of 4Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 1 Google answers
HOKA1 of 4Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 1 Google answers
Columbia1 of 4Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 1 Google answers
Kathmandu1 of 4Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 1 Google answers
Altra0 of 4Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 1 Google answers
See every answer about hiking boot brands
4 answers
Asked ChatGPT
“Which hiking boots should I buy in Australia?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What are the best hiking boot brands?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What are the best waterproof hiking boots?”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“hiking boots”
Google showed no AI Overview for this search.
Searched Google, AI Overview
“walking boots”
Brands are shown in the order each answer named them. The survey took place in Australia on October 26, 2026.
Is KEEN or Merrell more popular in search?
This chart shows how often people search Google for KEEN and Merrell by name. Each line represents a brand's share of searches for all 12 hiking boot brands we track, month by month, from searches in Australia.
Share of searches by month for Merrell, KEEN. The figures are in the table below the chart.
View monthly share of searches table
| Month | Merrell | SCARPA | Salomon | KEEN | HOKA | LOWA | Columbia | Kathmandu | Altra | La Sportiva | Oboz | Meindl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 2025 | 25.8% | 15.3% | 11.2% | 8.9% | 8.4% | 7.1% | 6.1% | 6.1% | 2.7% | 3.2% | 3.3% | 1.8% |
| Nov 2025 | 25.3% | 15% | 11.5% | 8.9% | 9.7% | 6.3% | 5.3% | 7.8% | 2.4% | 2.6% | 3.6% | 1.6% |
| Dec 2025 | 25.1% | 15.4% | 11.8% | 10.1% | 8.9% | 6.6% | 5.3% | 6.5% | 2.9% | 2.6% | 3.6% | 1.3% |
| Jan 2026 | 26.6% | 15.1% | 12% | 9.3% | 8.6% | 6.6% | 5.6% | 5.6% | 3% | 2.9% | 3% | 1.6% |
| Feb 2026 | 23.7% | 15.4% | 11.9% | 9.4% | 8.2% | 7.6% | 5.3% | 6.5% | 3.6% | 3.2% | 3.6% | 1.6% |
| Mar 2026 | 31.9% | 13.1% | 13.2% | 7.5% | 7.5% | 6.4% | 4.8% | 5.5% | 2.6% | 2% | 4% | 1.4% |
| Apr 2026 | 33.7% | 13.6% | 9.8% | 8.2% | 6.6% | 6.3% | 6.7% | 4.6% | 3.1% | 2.7% | 3.1% | 1.7% |
| May 2026 | 37.4% | 13% | 10% | 7.9% | 6.2% | 6.3% | 5.4% | 4.2% | 3.7% | 2.3% | 2.5% | 1.3% |
| Jun 2026 | 26.4% | 13.7% | 12.8% | 10.2% | 7% | 6.9% | 7% | 5.7% | 3.2% | 2.5% | 3.2% | 1.4% |
| Jul 2026 | 27.1% | 15.6% | 12.5% | 8.7% | 7.3% | 6.5% | 6.9% | 5.6% | 3.1% | 2.4% | 3.1% | 1.4% |
| Aug 2026 | 27.2% | 16.3% | 12.5% | 8.7% | 6% | 7% | 8.2% | 4.3% | 3.1% | 2.6% | 2.5% | 1.4% |
| Sep 2026 | 28.6% | 14.6% | 11.1% | 9.3% | 7.4% | 7.4% | 5.8% | 5.1% | 3.4% | 2.9% | 2.8% | 1.5% |
How has the KEEN and Merrell comparison changed over the last 12 months?
3 findings
- Merrell was ahead of KEEN in every measured month of the 12 months ending September 2026.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, KEEN’s share of searches among hiking boot brands in Australia moved from 8.9% to 9.3%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 1.3K to 1.6K.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Merrell’s share of searches among hiking boot brands in Australia moved from 25.8% to 28.6%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 3.7K to 4.9K.
How did search popularity change for Australia hiking boot brands in September 2026?
2 changes
In September 2026, Merrell gained share of searches among hiking boot brands in Australia, from 27.2% to 28.6%.
In September 2026, KEEN gained share of searches among hiking boot brands in Australia, from 8.7% to 9.3%.
How are branded searches counted?
4 search terms
Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using KEEN’s and Merrell’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.
Other head-to-heads among hiking boot brands
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