Brandwave

How popular isNew Balance?

In September 2026, people searched for New Balance by name about 12.5 million times worldwide, a 16.8% decrease from the previous year. These searches made up 19.7% of all global walking shoe brand searches, placing New Balance second out of 11 brands. When we asked both ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about walking shoe brands, New Balance appeared in all answers and was the third most recommended of the 11.

Search and AI answers in September 2026

New Balance is the second most searched of 11 competitors and the third most recommended in AI answers.

  1. HOKAShare of searches 19.7%Mentioned in 5 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 2nd
  2. New BalanceShare of searches 19.7%Mentioned in 5 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 3rd
  3. SkechersShare of searches 16.1%Mentioned in 3 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 6th
  4. ASICSShare of searches 13.1%Mentioned in 4 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 5th
  5. BrooksShare of searches 10.7%Mentioned in 5 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 1st

+6 more

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Top walking shoe brands in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews

In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, New Balance appeared in all five answers. New Balance is the third most recommended of the 11.

Most recommended by AI

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

  1. Brooks1st
  2. HOKA2nd
  3. New Balance3rd
  4. On4th
  5. ASICS5th
  6. Skechers6th
  7. Saucony7th
  8. Merrell–
  9. Clarks–
  10. Ryka–
  11. +1 more

Mentioned by AI

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

  • HOKA5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • New Balance5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • Brooks5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • ASICS4 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Skechers3 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • On2 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • Saucony1 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • Merrell0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • Clarks0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • Ryka0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers

+1 more

See every answer about walking shoe brands

5 answers

Not named in any answer:

Brands are shown in the order each answer named them. The survey took place in the United States on October 25, 2026.

Which walking shoe brands compete with New Balance?

New Balance against walking shoe brands worldwide, by month

Share of searches by month for HOKA, New Balance, Skechers, ASICS, Brooks, Merrell, On, Clarks, Ryka. The figures are in the table below the chart.

View monthly share of searches table
MonthHOKANew BalanceSkechersASICSBrooksMerrellOnClarksRykaSauconyVionic
Oct 202520.6%20.6%16.8%9.2%11.2%9.2%5%1.8%2.7%1.8%1.2%
Nov 202520.7%20.7%13.8%11.3%11.3%11.3%5%1.5%2.2%1.5%0.93%
Dec 202522.8%18.6%15.2%12.4%10.2%10.2%5.5%1.3%1.6%1.3%0.9%
Jan 202621%21%14%11.4%9.4%11.4%5.1%1.8%1.8%1.5%1.5%
Feb 202619.8%19.8%13.2%13.2%10.8%10.8%4.8%2.1%2.1%1.7%1.7%
Mar 202621.5%21.5%14.4%11.7%11.7%7.9%4.3%1.9%1.9%1.9%1.3%
Apr 202624.6%20.1%13.4%11%11%7.3%4.9%1.8%2.7%1.8%1.4%
May 202622.4%18.3%14.9%10%12.2%10%4.5%2%2.4%2%1.3%
Jun 202620.8%20.8%13.9%11.3%11.3%9.3%5.1%1.8%2.7%1.8%1.2%
Jul 202618.5%22.6%15.1%12.3%10.1%8.3%5.5%1.9%2.4%1.9%1.3%
Aug 202618.1%22.1%14.7%12.1%12.1%8.1%5.4%2%2.4%2%1.3%
Sep 202619.7%19.7%16.1%13.1%10.7%8.8%4.8%2.1%2.1%1.7%1.2%

  1. 1.HOKA

    19.7%

    Moved from 2nd to 1st. 22.2K estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share +1.6 points.

  2. 2.New Balance

    19.7%

    Moved from 1st to 2nd. 22.2K estimated branded searches, -18.1% vs prior month. Share -2.4 points.

  3. 3.Skechers

    16.1%

    Held 3rd. 18.1K estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share +1.3 points.

  4. 4.ASICS

    13.1%

    Held 4th. 14.8K estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share +1.1 points.

  5. 5.Brooks

    10.7%

    Held 5th. 12.1K estimated branded searches, -18.2% vs prior month. Share -1.3 points.

  6. 6.Merrell

    8.8%

    Held 6th. 9.9K estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share +0.7 points.

  7. 7.On

    4.8%

    Held 7th. 5.4K estimated branded searches, -18.2% vs prior month. Share -0.6 points.

  8. 8.Clarks

    2.1%

    Moved from 9th to 8th. 2.4K estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share +0.2 points.

  9. 9.Ryka

    2.1%

    Moved from 8th to 9th. 2.4K estimated branded searches, -17.2% vs prior month. Share -0.2 points.

  10. 10.Saucony

    1.7%

    Held 10th. 1.9K estimated branded searches, -20.8% vs prior month. Share -0.3 points.

  11. 11.Vionic

    1.2%

    Held 11th. 1.3K estimated branded searches, -18.8% vs prior month. Share -0.1 points.

New Balance, HOKA and 6 other brands sell other things too, so only their searches that name this product count here, like “new balance walking shoes”.

Compare popularity between New Balance and its closest rivals

Every comparison with New Balance

29 comparisons

How has branded search demand for New Balance changed worldwide over the last 12 months?

3 findings
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, estimated monthly branded searches for New Balance worldwide fell from 15.1M to 12.5M.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, New Balance’s share of searches among walking shoe brands worldwide decreased from 20.6% to 19.7%.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, New Balance’s share of searches among walking shoe brands worldwide peaked at 22.6% in July 2026 and was lowest at 18.3% in May 2026.

How did search popularity change for walking shoe brands worldwide in September 2026?

6 changes

  1. In September 2026, HOKA overtook New Balance to become the leader among walking shoe brands worldwide, with 19.7% of the searches.

  2. In September 2026, Skechers gained share of searches among walking shoe brands worldwide, from 14.7% to 16.1%.

  3. In September 2026, ASICS gained share of searches among walking shoe brands worldwide, from 12.1% to 13.1%.

  4. In September 2026, Merrell gained share of searches among walking shoe brands worldwide, from 8.1% to 8.8%.

  5. In September 2026, New Balance lost share of searches among walking shoe brands worldwide, from 22.1% to 19.7%.

  6. In September 2026, Brooks lost share of searches among walking shoe brands worldwide, from 12.1% to 10.7%.

How are New Balance’s branded searches counted?

17 search terms

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

  • new balance
  • new balance baseball cleat
  • new balance basketball shoes
  • new balance cricket shoes
  • new balance football boot
  • new balance football cleat
  • new balance rugby boots
  • new balance running shoes
  • new balance shoes
  • new balance skate shoes
  • new balance sneaker
  • new balance sneakers
  • new balance toddler shoes
  • new balance trainers
  • new balance turf shoe
  • new balance turfs
  • new balance walking shoes

Do you work for New Balance? To request corrections or removal please contact us via our support page and we will be happy to assist.

How the Brand Demand Index is measured

Where does New Balance compete?

New Balance is ranked in 11 competitor sets. Each share is worked out among that set's brands, so it differs from set to set.
Competitor setRankShare of searchesRanking
Sneaker brands5th of 1210%Show ranking
Running shoe brands4th of 811.9%Show ranking
Kids shoe brands6th of 86.5%Show ranking
Football boot brands5th of 68%Show ranking
Basketball shoe brands4th of 59.8%Show ranking
Skate shoes brands4th of 714.2%Show ranking
Walking shoe brands2nd of 1119.7%Shown above
Football cleats brands4th of 46.8%Show ranking
Cricket shoes4th of 715.7%Show ranking
Turf shoes brands2nd of 429.6%Show ranking
Baseball cleats brands2nd of 428.7%Show ranking
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