Altra vs Merrell:Which is more popular?
In September 2026, Merrell had more branded searches than Altra among hiking footwear brands worldwide. Merrell had about 680,000 branded searches, while Altra had 301,000. Merrell made up 41.5% of all hiking footwear brand searches we track, and Altra accounted for 18.4%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about hiking footwear brands, Merrell appeared in all five answers and Altra in four. Merrell was mentioned before Altra in every answer.
Who do people search for more?
Merrell, about 2 searches for every 1 for Altra
Who does AI mention more?
Merrell, mentioned in every answer we collected
Who does AI recommend more?
Merrell, named ahead of Altra in every answer
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Top hiking footwear brands in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews
In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, Merrell appeared in all five answers. Altra was mentioned in four out of five: in two of the three ChatGPT answers and in both Google AI Overviews. Merrell was listed before Altra 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.
- Merrell5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
Salomon5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
Altra4 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
HOKA4 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers- La Sportiva2 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
KEEN2 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
Columbia2 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
Oboz2 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
LOWA1 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
SCARPA1 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
See every answer about hiking footwear brands
5 answers
Asked ChatGPT
“Which hiking footwear brand should I buy?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What are the best hiking footwear brands?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What's the best hiking footwear brand for all-day comfort?”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“hiking footwear brands”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“best hiking footwear”
Brands are shown in the order each answer named them. The survey took place in the United States on October 21, 2026.
Is Altra or Merrell more popular in search?
This chart shows how often people search Google for Altra and Merrell by name. Each line represents a brand's share of searches for all ten hiking footwear brands we track, month by month, from English-language searches worldwide.
Share of searches by month for Merrell, Altra. The figures are in the table below the chart.
View monthly share of searches table
| Month | Merrell | La Sportiva | Altra | Salomon | LOWA | HOKA | KEEN | Columbia | Oboz | SCARPA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 2025 | 45.7% | 20.8% | 17% | 6.2% | 2.2% | 2.8% | 1.7% | 1.5% | 1.3% | 0.69% |
| Nov 2025 | 49.1% | 19.1% | 15.6% | 5.7% | 2.5% | 2.6% | 1.6% | 1.7% | 1.4% | 0.63% |
| Dec 2025 | 47.2% | 21.7% | 14.5% | 6.1% | 2.3% | 2.7% | 1.6% | 1.6% | 1.6% | 0.71% |
| Jan 2026 | 43.4% | 23.6% | 15.8% | 6.6% | 2.5% | 2.9% | 1.6% | 1.4% | 1.4% | 0.77% |
| Feb 2026 | 43.8% | 23.3% | 15.5% | 6.6% | 2.5% | 2.5% | 1.9% | 1.7% | 1.4% | 0.77% |
| Mar 2026 | 45.1% | 19.2% | 19.2% | 6.6% | 2.3% | 2.6% | 1.7% | 1.4% | 1.2% | 0.63% |
| Apr 2026 | 44.5% | 19.4% | 19.4% | 6.4% | 2.1% | 2.9% | 1.9% | 1.7% | 1.2% | 0.64% |
| May 2026 | 45% | 18.8% | 18.8% | 6.8% | 2.1% | 2.8% | 2.1% | 1.7% | 1.4% | 0.62% |
| Jun 2026 | 48.9% | 18.6% | 15.2% | 7.6% | 1.8% | 2.5% | 2% | 1.7% | 1.1% | 0.61% |
| Jul 2026 | 45% | 19.6% | 16.1% | 8.4% | 2.2% | 2.6% | 2.4% | 1.8% | 1.2% | 0.79% |
| Aug 2026 | 41.3% | 22.1% | 18% | 8% | 2.4% | 2.4% | 2% | 2% | 1.1% | 0.73% |
| Sep 2026 | 41.5% | 22.5% | 18.4% | 7.5% | 2.4% | 2.2% | 2% | 1.7% | 1.1% | 0.74% |
How has the Altra and Merrell comparison changed over the last 12 months?
3 findings
- Merrell was ahead of Altra in every measured month of the 12 months ending September 2026.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Altra’s share of searches among hiking footwear brands worldwide moved from 17% to 18.4%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 246K to 301K.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Merrell’s share of searches among hiking footwear brands worldwide moved from 45.7% to 41.5%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 661K to 680K.
How did search popularity change for hiking footwear brands worldwide in September 2026?
1 change
Altra’s share of searches among hiking footwear brands worldwide has gained ground for 3 months in a row, from 15.2% to 18.4% in September 2026.
How are branded searches counted?
6 search terms
Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Altra’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 footwear brands
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