Columbia vs Outdoor Research:Which is more popular?
In September 2026, Columbia had more branded searches than Outdoor Research among ski jackets worldwide. Columbia had about 135,000 branded searches, while Outdoor Research had 74,000. Columbia made up 1.3% of all ski jacket searches we track, and Outdoor Research accounted for 0.73%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about ski jackets, Columbia appeared in four of the five answers and Outdoor Research in three. Columbia was mentioned before Outdoor Research in four out of five answers.
Who do people search for more?
Columbia, about 82% more searches than Outdoor Research
Who does AI mention more?
Columbia, mentioned in 4 of 5 answers, Outdoor Research in 3
Who does AI recommend more?
Columbia, named ahead of Outdoor Research in 4 of 5 answers
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Top ski jackets in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews
In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, Columbia was mentioned in four out of five: in two of the three ChatGPT answers and in both Google AI Overviews. Outdoor Research was mentioned in three out of five: in two of the three ChatGPT answers and in one of the two Google AI Overviews. Columbia was listed before Outdoor Research in four out of five answers.
Most recommended by AI
Brands get a higher ranking if they are mentioned earlier in the answers.
Arc'teryx1st
Helly Hansen2nd- Columbia3rd
Patagonia4th
Norrøna5th
The North Face6th
Outdoor Research7th
Spyder–
Salomon–
Mentioned by AI
Each dot is one answer, filled in when that answer mentions the brand.
- Helly Hansen5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
- Arc'teryx4 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
- Columbia4 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
- The North Face3 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
- Patagonia3 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
- Norrøna3 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
- Outdoor Research3 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
- Spyder0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
- Salomon0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
See every answer about ski jackets
5 answers
Asked ChatGPT
“Which ski jacket brand should I buy?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What are the best ski jacket brands?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What's the best ski jacket brand for cold snowy conditions?”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“best ski jacket”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“waterproof ski jacket”
Brands are shown in the order each answer named them. The survey took place in the United States on October 19, 2026.
Is Columbia or Outdoor Research more popular in search?
This chart shows how often people search Google for Columbia and Outdoor Research by name. Each line represents a brand's share of searches for all nine ski jackets we track, month by month, from English-language searches worldwide.
Share of searches by month for Columbia, Outdoor Research. The figures are in the table below the chart.
View monthly share of searches table
| Month | The North Face | Patagonia | Arc'teryx | Helly Hansen | Spyder | Norrøna | Columbia | Outdoor Research | Salomon |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 2025 | 44.6% | 27.2% | 18.2% | 5.5% | 1.5% | 1.1% | 1.1% | 0.6% | 0.18% |
| Nov 2025 | 49.8% | 22.4% | 18.3% | 5.5% | 1% | 0.9% | 1.3% | 0.6% | 0.14% |
| Dec 2025 | 47.6% | 21.4% | 21.4% | 5.2% | 1.2% | 0.86% | 1.3% | 0.71% | 0.18% |
| Jan 2026 | 44.7% | 24.6% | 20.1% | 6% | 1.4% | 1.2% | 0.99% | 0.66% | 0.25% |
| Feb 2026 | 41.7% | 28% | 18.7% | 5.6% | 1.5% | 2.1% | 1.1% | 0.92% | 0.27% |
| Mar 2026 | 37.7% | 33.7% | 18.4% | 4.5% | 1.8% | 1.7% | 1.1% | 0.75% | 0.32% |
| Apr 2026 | 34.6% | 34.9% | 19.1% | 4.7% | 2.3% | 1.7% | 1.4% | 0.94% | 0.37% |
| May 2026 | 38.9% | 32% | 17.5% | 5.3% | 2.5% | 1.3% | 1.3% | 0.87% | 0.33% |
| Jun 2026 | 35% | 35.2% | 19.3% | 4.7% | 1.8% | 1.2% | 1.4% | 0.95% | 0.36% |
| Jul 2026 | 39.6% | 32.6% | 17.8% | 4.4% | 1.7% | 1.3% | 1.3% | 0.88% | 0.34% |
| Aug 2026 | 39.5% | 29.6% | 19.7% | 4.9% | 1.9% | 1.8% | 1.5% | 0.8% | 0.38% |
| Sep 2026 | 40% | 26.9% | 22% | 5.4% | 1.7% | 1.6% | 1.3% | 0.73% | 0.29% |
How has the Columbia and Outdoor Research comparison changed over the last 12 months?
3 findings
- Columbia was ahead of Outdoor Research in every measured month of the 12 months ending September 2026.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Columbia’s share of searches among ski jackets worldwide moved from 1.1% to 1.3%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 165K to 135K.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Outdoor Research’s share of searches among ski jackets worldwide moved from 0.6% to 0.73%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 90.5K to 74K.
How did search popularity change for ski jackets worldwide in September 2026?
2 changes
Estimated monthly branded searches for Outdoor Research worldwide fell 18.2% over 12 measured months, from 90.5K to 74K in September 2026.
Estimated monthly branded searches for Columbia worldwide fell 18.2% over 12 measured months, from 165K to 135K in September 2026.
How are branded searches counted?
2 search terms
Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Columbia’s and Outdoor Research’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 sportswear
Outdoor Research
1 branded search term
- outdoor research
Other head-to-heads among ski jackets
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