Brandwave

Columbia vs Outdoor Research:Which is more popular?

In September 2026, Columbia had more branded searches than Outdoor Research among snow pants brands worldwide. Columbia had about 110,000 branded searches, while Outdoor Research had 74,000. Columbia made up 1% of all snow pants brand searches we track, and Outdoor Research accounted for 0.7%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about snow pants brands, Columbia appeared in three of the five answers and Outdoor Research in two. Outdoor Research was mentioned before Columbia in two out of three answers that named either.

Among snow pants brands worldwide in September 2026

Who do people search for more?

Columbia, about 49% more searches than Outdoor Research

Columbia 110K searchesOutdoor Research 74K searches

Who does AI mention more?

Columbia, mentioned in 3 of 5 answers, Outdoor Research in 2

Columbia in 3 of 5Outdoor Research in 2 of 5

Who does AI recommend more?

Outdoor Research, named ahead of Columbia in 2 of 3 answers

Outdoor Research first in 2Columbia first in 1

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Top snow pants brands in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews

In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, Columbia was mentioned in three out of five: in two of the three ChatGPT answers and in one of the two Google AI Overviews. Outdoor Research was mentioned in two out of five: in two of the three ChatGPT answers, but not in either of the two Google AI Overviews. Outdoor Research was listed before Columbia in two out of three answers that named either.

Most recommended by AI

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

  1. Patagonia1st
  2. The North Face2nd
  3. Arc'teryx3rd
  4. Burton4th
  5. Helly Hansen5th
  6. Outdoor Research6th
  7. Columbia7th
  8. Volcom8th
  9. Roxy–

Mentioned by AI

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

  • The North Face3 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • Patagonia3 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • Arc'teryx3 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • Columbia3 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Burton3 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Helly Hansen2 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • Volcom2 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Outdoor Research2 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • Roxy0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers

See every answer about snow pants 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 21, 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 snow pants brands we track, month by month, from English-language searches worldwide.

Columbia and Outdoor Research among snow pants brands worldwide, by month

Share of searches by month for Columbia, Outdoor Research. The figures are in the table below the chart.

View monthly share of searches table
MonthThe North FacePatagoniaArc'teryxHelly HansenRoxyVolcomColumbiaBurtonOutdoor Research
Oct 202543.3%26.4%17.7%5.3%2.9%1.6%1.3%0.82%0.59%
Nov 202548.1%21.6%17.7%5.3%2.4%1.3%1.9%1%0.58%
Dec 202545.3%20.4%20.4%5%2.7%1.5%2.2%1.7%0.67%
Jan 202642.2%23.2%19%5.7%3.8%1.7%1.7%2.1%0.62%
Feb 202639.9%26.8%17.9%5.4%3.6%1.6%1.3%2.5%0.88%
Mar 202635.9%32.1%17.6%4.3%5.3%1.9%1.1%1.1%0.71%
Apr 202632.8%33%18.1%4.4%6.6%2.4%1.1%0.63%0.89%
May 202637.2%30.6%16.7%5%6.1%2.2%0.83%0.48%0.83%
Jun 202632.9%33.2%18.2%4.5%6.7%2.4%0.73%0.53%0.9%
Jul 202637%30.4%16.7%4.1%7.5%2.2%0.67%0.58%0.82%
Aug 202637.9%28.4%19%4.7%5.7%2.1%0.77%0.79%0.77%
Sep 202638.3%25.8%21.1%5.2%5.2%1.9%1%0.9%0.7%

How has the Columbia and Outdoor Research comparison changed over the last 12 months?

3 findings
  • The lead changed hands 2 times in the 12 months ending September 2026: Outdoor Research took it in June 2026, Columbia took it in September 2026.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Columbia’s share of searches among snow pants brands worldwide moved from 1.3% to 1%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 201K to 110K.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Outdoor Research’s share of searches among snow pants brands worldwide moved from 0.59% to 0.7%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 90.5K to 74K.

How did search popularity change for snow pants brands worldwide in September 2026?

2 changes

  1. In September 2026, Columbia rose from 8th to 7th among snow pants brands worldwide.

  2. Estimated monthly branded searches for Outdoor Research worldwide fell 18.2% over 12 measured months, from 90.5K to 74K 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 jacket

Outdoor Research

1 branded search term

  • outdoor research

How the Brand Demand Index is measured

Other head-to-heads among snow pants brands

Creator with pink hair and a pink jacket

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