Columbia vs LOWA:Which is more popular?
In September 2026, LOWA had more branded searches than Columbia among hiking footwear brands worldwide. LOWA had about 39,700 branded searches, while Columbia had 27,100. LOWA made up 2.4% of all hiking footwear brand searches we track, and Columbia accounted for 1.7%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about hiking footwear brands, Columbia appeared in two of the five answers and LOWA in one. Columbia and LOWA were each mentioned first in one of the two answers that named either.
Who do people search for more?
LOWA, about 46% more searches than Columbia
Who does AI mention more?
Columbia, mentioned in 2 of 5 answers, LOWA in 1
Who does AI recommend more?
Each is named first in 1 of 2 answers.
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Top hiking footwear brands in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews
In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, Columbia was mentioned in two out of five: in one of the three ChatGPT answers and in one of the two Google AI Overviews. LOWA was mentioned in one out of five: in one of the three ChatGPT answers, but not in either of the two Google AI Overviews. Columbia and LOWA were each listed first in one of the two answers that named either.
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 Columbia or LOWA more popular in search?
This chart shows how often people search Google for Columbia and LOWA 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 LOWA, Columbia. 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 Columbia and LOWA comparison changed over the last 12 months?
3 findings
- LOWA was ahead of Columbia in every measured month of the 12 months ending September 2026.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Columbia’s share of searches among hiking footwear brands worldwide moved from 1.5% to 1.7%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 22.2K to 27.1K.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, LOWA’s share of searches among hiking footwear brands worldwide moved from 2.2% to 2.4%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 32.5K to 39.7K.
How did search popularity change for hiking footwear brands worldwide in September 2026?
2 changes
LOWA’s share of searches among hiking footwear brands worldwide has gained ground for 3 months in a row, from 1.8% to 2.4% in September 2026.
In September 2026, Columbia fell from 7th to 8th among hiking footwear brands worldwide.
How are branded searches counted?
4 search terms
Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Columbia’s and LOWA’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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