Walking shoe brands:Which are most popular?

Name: Walking shoe brands: Which are searched most?
Creator: Brandwave
License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

HOKA and New Balance tie for the highest share of searches among walking shoe brands worldwide, at 19.7% each in September 2026. When we checked with ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews, HOKA, New Balance and Brooks showed up in every answer. Brooks was recommended most often, coming first in two out of five responses.

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Top walking shoe brands in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews

In Brandwave's three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, HOKA, New Balance and Brooks appeared every time. Brooks was recommended most often, coming first in two out of five answers. HOKA was second, and New Balance was third. Merrell, which ranked sixth in searches, was not mentioned at all.

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.

How many AI answers named each brand
Brand	ChatGPT	Google	Answers that named it
HOKA	Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answers	Named in 2 of 2 Google AI Overviews	5 of 5
New Balance	Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answers	Named in 2 of 2 Google AI Overviews	5 of 5
Brooks	Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answers	Named in 2 of 2 Google AI Overviews	5 of 5
ASICS	Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answers	Named in 1 of 2 Google AI Overviews	4 of 5
Skechers	Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answers	Named in 2 of 2 Google AI Overviews	3 of 5
On	Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answers	Named in 2 of 2 Google AI Overviews	2 of 5
Saucony	Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answers	Named in 0 of 2 Google AI Overviews	1 of 5
Merrell	Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answers	Named in 0 of 2 Google AI Overviews	0 of 5
Clarks	Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answers	Named in 0 of 2 Google AI Overviews	0 of 5
Ryka	Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answers	Named in 0 of 2 Google AI Overviews	0 of 5
Vionic	Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answers	Named in 0 of 2 Google AI Overviews	0 of 5

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
Vionic0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers

See every answer about walking shoe brands

5 answers

Asked ChatGPT
“Which walking shoes should I buy?”
1. 1Brooks
2. 2HOKA
3. 3ASICS
4. 4New Balance
Asked ChatGPT
“What are the best walking shoe brands?”
1. 1HOKA
2. 2New Balance
3. 3Brooks
4. 4ASICS
5. 5Saucony
6. 6Skechers
Asked ChatGPT
“What are the best walking shoes for plantar fasciitis?”
1. 1HOKA
2. 2Brooks
3. 3ASICS
4. 4New Balance
Searched Google, AI Overview
“walking shoes”
1. 1Brooks
2. 2On
3. 3HOKA
4. 4New Balance
5. 5Skechers
Searched Google, AI Overview
“best walking shoes”
1. 1On
2. 2Brooks
3. 3HOKA
4. 4New Balance
5. 5Skechers
6. 6ASICS

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 do people search for most?

This chart shows how often people search Google for each walking shoe brand by name. Each line represents a brand's share of searches for all 11 walking shoe brands we track, month by month, from English-language searches worldwide.

Share of searches among walking shoe brands worldwide, by month

Month	HOKA	New Balance	Skechers	ASICS	Brooks	Merrell	On	Clarks	Ryka	Saucony	Vionic
Oct 2025	20.6%	20.6%	16.8%	9.2%	11.2%	9.2%	5%	1.8%	2.7%	1.8%	1.2%
Nov 2025	20.7%	20.7%	13.8%	11.3%	11.3%	11.3%	5%	1.5%	2.2%	1.5%	0.93%
Dec 2025	22.8%	18.6%	15.2%	12.4%	10.2%	10.2%	5.5%	1.3%	1.6%	1.3%	0.9%
Jan 2026	21%	21%	14%	11.4%	9.4%	11.4%	5.1%	1.8%	1.8%	1.5%	1.5%
Feb 2026	19.8%	19.8%	13.2%	13.2%	10.8%	10.8%	4.8%	2.1%	2.1%	1.7%	1.7%
Mar 2026	21.5%	21.5%	14.4%	11.7%	11.7%	7.9%	4.3%	1.9%	1.9%	1.9%	1.3%
Apr 2026	24.6%	20.1%	13.4%	11%	11%	7.3%	4.9%	1.8%	2.7%	1.8%	1.4%
May 2026	22.4%	18.3%	14.9%	10%	12.2%	10%	4.5%	2%	2.4%	2%	1.3%
Jun 2026	20.8%	20.8%	13.9%	11.3%	11.3%	9.3%	5.1%	1.8%	2.7%	1.8%	1.2%
Jul 2026	18.5%	22.6%	15.1%	12.3%	10.1%	8.3%	5.5%	1.9%	2.4%	1.9%	1.3%
Aug 2026	18.1%	22.1%	14.7%	12.1%	12.1%	8.1%	5.4%	2%	2.4%	2%	1.3%
Sep 2026	19.7%	19.7%	16.1%	13.1%	10.7%	8.8%	4.8%	2.1%	2.1%	1.7%	1.2%

Rank	Brand	Share of searches	Estimated monthly branded searches	vs prior month	Share change
1, moved from 2nd to 1st	HOKA	19.7%	22.2K	0%	+1.6 pointsmoved from 2nd to 1st
2, moved from 1st to 2nd	New Balance	19.7%	22.2K	-18.1%	-2.4 pointsmoved from 1st to 2nd
3, held 3rd	Skechers	16.1%	18.1K	0%	+1.3 points
4, held 4th	ASICS	13.1%	14.8K	0%	+1.1 points
5, held 5th	Brooks	10.7%	12.1K	-18.2%	-1.3 points
6, held 6th	Merrell	8.8%	9.9K	0%	+0.7 points
7, held 7th	On	4.8%	5.4K	-18.2%	-0.6 points
8, moved from 9th to 8th	Clarks	2.1%	2.4K	0%	+0.2 pointsmoved from 9th to 8th
9, moved from 8th to 9th	Ryka	2.1%	2.4K	-17.2%	-0.2 pointsmoved from 8th to 9th
10, held 10th	Saucony	1.7%	1.9K	-20.8%	-0.3 points
11, held 11th	Vionic Caleres	1.2%	1.3K	-18.8%	-0.1 points

1.HOKA
19.7%
Moved from 2nd to 1st. 22.2K estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share +1.6 points.
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.Skechers
16.1%
Held 3rd. 18.1K estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share +1.3 points.
4.ASICS
13.1%
Held 4th. 14.8K estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share +1.1 points.
5.Brooks
10.7%
Held 5th. 12.1K estimated branded searches, -18.2% vs prior month. Share -1.3 points.
6.Merrell
8.8%
Held 6th. 9.9K estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share +0.7 points.
7.On
4.8%
Held 7th. 5.4K estimated branded searches, -18.2% vs prior month. Share -0.6 points.
8.Clarks
2.1%
Moved from 9th to 8th. 2.4K estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share +0.2 points.
9.Ryka
2.1%
Moved from 8th to 9th. 2.4K estimated branded searches, -17.2% vs prior month. Share -0.2 points.
10.Saucony
1.7%
Held 10th. 1.9K estimated branded searches, -20.8% vs prior month. Share -0.3 points.
11.Vionic
1.2%
Held 11th. 1.3K estimated branded searches, -18.8% vs prior month. Share -0.1 points.

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

Which brand is most popular in search among walking shoe brands worldwide?

11 brands

HOKA and New Balance tie for the highest share of searches among walking shoe brands worldwide, at 19.7% each in September 2026.

Global walking shoe brands, last 12 months ending September 2026
Brand	Share of searches	Peak	Low	Rank
HOKA	20.6% → 19.7%	24.6%Apr 2026	18.1%Aug 2026	1st
New Balance	20.6% → 19.7%	22.6%Jul 2026	18.3%May 2026	2nd
Skechers	16.8% → 16.1%	16.8%Oct 2025	13.2%Feb 2026	3rd
ASICS	9.2% → 13.1%	13.2%Feb 2026	9.2%Oct 2025	5th → 4th
Brooks	11.2% → 10.7%	12.2%May 2026	9.4%Jan 2026	4th → 5th
Merrell	9.2% → 8.8%	11.4%Jan 2026	7.3%Apr 2026	6th
On	5% → 4.8%	5.5%Dec 2025	4.3%Mar 2026	7th
Clarks	1.8% → 2.1%	2.1%Sep 2026	1.3%Dec 2025	9th → 8th
Ryka	2.7% → 2.1%	2.7%Jun 2026	1.6%Dec 2025	8th → 9th
Saucony	1.8% → 1.7%	2%May 2026	1.3%Dec 2025	10th
Vionic	1.2%	1.7%Feb 2026	0.9%Dec 2025	11th

Each finding as a sentence

Across the 12 months ending September 2026, HOKA’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 decreased from 20.6% to 19.7%.
Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Skechers’ share of searches among walking shoe brands worldwide decreased from 16.8% to 16.1%.
Across the 12 months ending September 2026, ASICS’s share of searches among walking shoe brands worldwide increased from 9.2% to 13.1%.
Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Ryka’s share of searches among walking shoe brands worldwide decreased from 2.7% to 2.1%.
Across the 12 months ending September 2026, HOKA’s share of searches among walking shoe brands worldwide peaked at 24.6% in April 2026 and was lowest at 18.1% in August 2026.
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.
Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Skechers’ share of searches among walking shoe brands worldwide peaked at 16.8% in October 2025 and was lowest at 13.2% in February 2026.
Across the 12 months ending September 2026, ASICS’s share of searches among walking shoe brands worldwide peaked at 13.2% in February 2026 and was lowest at 9.2% in October 2025.
Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Brooks’ share of searches among walking shoe brands worldwide peaked at 12.2% in May 2026 and was lowest at 9.4% in January 2026.
Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Merrell’s share of searches among walking shoe brands worldwide peaked at 11.4% in January 2026 and was lowest at 7.3% in April 2026.
Across the 12 months ending September 2026, On’s share of searches among walking shoe brands worldwide peaked at 5.5% in December 2025 and was lowest at 4.3% in March 2026.
Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Ryka’s share of searches among walking shoe brands worldwide peaked at 2.7% in June 2026 and was lowest at 1.6% in December 2025.
Across the 12 months ending September 2026, ASICS rose from 5th to 4th among walking shoe brands worldwide.
Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Brooks fell from 4th to 5th among walking shoe brands worldwide.
Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Clarks rose from 9th to 8th among walking shoe brands worldwide.
Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Ryka fell from 8th to 9th among walking shoe brands worldwide.
Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Merrell, On, Saucony and Vionic held steady: their share of searches among walking shoe brands worldwide each moved less than 0.5 percentage points.

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

8 changes

In September 2026, HOKA overtook New Balance to become the leader among walking shoe brands worldwide, with 19.7% of the searches.
In September 2026, Skechers gained share of searches among walking shoe brands worldwide, from 14.7% to 16.1%.
In September 2026, ASICS gained share of searches among walking shoe brands worldwide, from 12.1% to 13.1%.
In September 2026, Merrell gained share of searches among walking shoe brands worldwide, from 8.1% to 8.8%.
In September 2026, New Balance lost share of searches among walking shoe brands worldwide, from 22.1% to 19.7%.
In September 2026, Brooks lost share of searches among walking shoe brands worldwide, from 12.1% to 10.7%.
In September 2026, On lost share of searches among walking shoe brands worldwide, from 5.4% to 4.8%.
Ryka’s share of searches among walking shoe brands worldwide has lost ground for 3 months in a row, from 2.7% to 2.1% in September 2026.

How are branded searches counted for walking shoe brands?

11 search terms

Each brand's share of searches among walking shoe brands comes from the terms listed under its name. When people mostly search for a brand because of something else it sells, only the searches that name this product count here.