Bontrager vs Shimano:Which is more popular?
In September 2026, Shimano had more branded searches than Bontrager among cycling shoe brands worldwide. Shimano had about 368,000 branded searches, while Bontrager had 27,100. Shimano made up 46.7% of all cycling shoe brand searches we track, and Bontrager accounted for 3.4%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about cycling shoe brands, Shimano appeared in all five answers and Bontrager in none.
Who do people search for more?
Shimano, about 14 searches for every 1 for Bontrager
Who does AI mention more?
Shimano, mentioned in every answer we collected
Who does AI recommend more?
Shimano, the only one of the two named
Follow Bontrager vs Shimano and get free monthly updates on what changed
By continuing you'll get index updates and occasional product news from Brandwave. Unsubscribe any time. Privacy
Top cycling shoe brands in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews
In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, Shimano appeared in all five answers. Bontrager 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.
Mentioned by AI
Each dot is one answer, filled in when that answer mentions the brand.
- Shimano5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
Specialized5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
Fizik4 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
Lake4 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
Giro3 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
Sidi3 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
Bontrager0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
See every answer about cycling shoe brands
5 answers
Asked ChatGPT
“Which cycling shoe brand should I buy?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What are the best cycling shoe brands?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What's the best cycling shoe brand for road riding?”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“best cycling shoes”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“road cycling shoes”
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 20, 2026.
Is Bontrager or Shimano more popular in search?
This chart shows how often people search Google for Bontrager and Shimano by name. Each line represents a brand's share of searches for all seven cycling shoe brands we track, month by month, from English-language searches worldwide.
Share of searches by month for Shimano, Bontrager. The figures are in the table below the chart.
View monthly share of searches table
| Month | Shimano | Specialized | Giro | Fizik | Bontrager | Sidi | Lake |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 2025 | 48.4% | 28.8% | 7.4% | 8% | 4.4% | 1.5% | 1.6% |
| Nov 2025 | 43.5% | 31.6% | 10.1% | 7.2% | 3.9% | 1.5% | 2.1% |
| Dec 2025 | 44.9% | 26.8% | 12.7% | 9% | 3.3% | 1.5% | 1.8% |
| Jan 2026 | 44.8% | 28% | 12.5% | 7.4% | 4% | 1.5% | 1.8% |
| Feb 2026 | 47.1% | 28.3% | 9.1% | 7.8% | 4.2% | 1.6% | 1.9% |
| Mar 2026 | 44.2% | 33.6% | 7.7% | 7.3% | 4% | 1.6% | 1.8% |
| Apr 2026 | 46.2% | 33.4% | 6.8% | 6.2% | 4.2% | 1.3% | 1.9% |
| May 2026 | 45.3% | 34.5% | 6.7% | 6.1% | 4.1% | 1.5% | 1.8% |
| Jun 2026 | 45.1% | 34.4% | 6.6% | 6.1% | 4.1% | 1.5% | 2.2% |
| Jul 2026 | 42.4% | 32.3% | 12.1% | 5.7% | 3.8% | 1.6% | 2.1% |
| Aug 2026 | 43.3% | 33% | 10.2% | 5.8% | 3.9% | 1.7% | 2.1% |
| Sep 2026 | 46.7% | 33.8% | 6.6% | 6.3% | 3.4% | 1.6% | 1.5% |
How has the Bontrager and Shimano comparison changed over the last 12 months?
3 findings
- Shimano was ahead of Bontrager in every measured month of the 12 months ending September 2026.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Bontrager’s share of searches among cycling shoe brands worldwide moved from 4.4% to 3.4%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 33.1K to 27.1K.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Shimano’s share of searches among cycling shoe brands worldwide moved from 48.4% to 46.7%, and its estimated monthly branded searches held steady at 368K.
How did search popularity change for cycling shoe brands worldwide in September 2026?
2 changes
In September 2026, Shimano gained share of searches among cycling shoe brands worldwide, from 43.3% to 46.7%.
Estimated monthly branded searches for Bontrager worldwide fell 18.1% over 12 measured months, from 33.1K to 27.1K in September 2026.
How are branded searches counted?
2 search terms
Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Bontrager’s and Shimano’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 cycling shoe brands
Put your own brand in this comparison
Brandwave tracks your branded demand next to the rival you actually watch, with your campaigns, spend and outcomes on the same timeline.