Helly Hansen vs Outdoor Research:Which is more popular?
In September 2026, Helly Hansen had more branded searches than Outdoor Research among waterproof jacket brands worldwide. Helly Hansen had about 550,000 branded searches, while Outdoor Research had 74,000. Helly Hansen made up 4.6% of all waterproof jacket brand searches we track, and Outdoor Research accounted for 0.62%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about waterproof jacket brands, Outdoor Research appeared in three of the five answers and Helly Hansen in two. Outdoor Research was mentioned before Helly Hansen in three out of four answers that named either.
Who do people search for more?
Helly Hansen, about 7 searches for every 1 for Outdoor Research
Who does AI mention more?
Outdoor Research, mentioned in 3 of 5 answers, Helly Hansen in 2
Who does AI recommend more?
Outdoor Research, named ahead of Helly Hansen in 3 of 4 answers
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Top waterproof jacket brands in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews
In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, Outdoor Research was mentioned in three out of five: in all three ChatGPT answers, but not in either of the two Google AI Overviews. Helly Hansen was mentioned in two out of five: in one of the three ChatGPT answers and in one of the two Google AI Overviews. Outdoor Research was listed before Helly Hansen in three out of four answers that named either.
Most recommended by AI
Brands get a higher ranking if they are mentioned earlier in the answers.
Patagonia1st
Arc'teryx2nd
Columbia3rd
Outdoor Research4th
Helly Hansen5th
The North Face6th
Rab7th
Barbour–
Carhartt–
Mentioned by AI
Each dot is one answer, filled in when that answer mentions the brand.
Patagonia5 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
Outdoor Research3 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
The North Face2 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
Helly Hansen2 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
Rab1 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
Barbour0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
Carhartt0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
See every answer about waterproof jacket brands
5 answers
Asked ChatGPT
“Which waterproof jacket brand should I buy?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What are the best waterproof jacket brands?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What's the best waterproof jacket brand for heavy rain?”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“waterproof rain jacket”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“waterproof jacket womens”
Brands are shown in the order each answer named them. The survey took place in the United States on October 19, 2026.
Is Helly Hansen or Outdoor Research more popular in search?
This chart shows how often people search Google for Helly Hansen and Outdoor Research by name. Each line represents a brand's share of searches for all nine waterproof jacket brands we track, month by month, from English-language searches worldwide.
Share of searches by month for Helly Hansen, Outdoor Research. The figures are in the table below the chart.
View monthly share of searches table
| Month | The North Face | Patagonia | Arc'teryx | Barbour | Helly Hansen | Carhartt | Rab | Columbia | Outdoor Research |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 2025 | 37.7% | 23% | 15.4% | 10.3% | 4.6% | 4.6% | 1.7% | 2.1% | 0.51% |
| Nov 2025 | 42.7% | 19.2% | 15.7% | 7% | 4.7% | 5.8% | 1.4% | 2.9% | 0.52% |
| Dec 2025 | 40% | 18% | 18% | 8.1% | 4.4% | 6.6% | 1.3% | 3.1% | 0.59% |
| Jan 2026 | 39.4% | 21.7% | 17.8% | 6.5% | 5.3% | 4.4% | 2% | 2.5% | 0.58% |
| Feb 2026 | 37.5% | 25.2% | 16.8% | 6.2% | 5.1% | 3.4% | 2.8% | 2.3% | 0.83% |
| Mar 2026 | 33.2% | 29.7% | 16.2% | 8.9% | 4% | 2.7% | 2.7% | 2% | 0.66% |
| Apr 2026 | 30.5% | 30.7% | 16.8% | 9.2% | 4.1% | 2.3% | 3.4% | 2.2% | 0.83% |
| May 2026 | 35.4% | 29.1% | 15.9% | 7.1% | 4.8% | 1.8% | 3.2% | 2% | 0.79% |
| Jun 2026 | 32% | 32.3% | 17.7% | 5.3% | 4.3% | 1.9% | 3.5% | 2% | 0.87% |
| Jul 2026 | 36.3% | 29.9% | 16.4% | 4.9% | 4% | 1.8% | 4% | 1.9% | 0.81% |
| Aug 2026 | 35.2% | 26.3% | 17.6% | 7.9% | 4.3% | 2.4% | 3.5% | 2% | 0.71% |
| Sep 2026 | 34% | 22.9% | 18.7% | 10.2% | 4.6% | 3.8% | 3.1% | 2% | 0.62% |
How has the Helly Hansen and Outdoor Research comparison changed over the last 12 months?
3 findings
- Helly Hansen was ahead of Outdoor Research in every measured month of the 12 months ending September 2026.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Helly Hansen’s share of searches among waterproof jacket brands worldwide held steady at 4.6%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 823K to 550K.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Outdoor Research’s share of searches among waterproof jacket brands worldwide moved from 0.51% to 0.62%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 90.5K to 74K.
How did search popularity change for waterproof jacket brands worldwide in September 2026?
2 changes

Estimated monthly branded searches for Helly Hansen worldwide fell 33.2% over 12 measured months, from 823K to 550K in September 2026.

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 Helly Hansen’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.
Helly Hansen
1 branded search term
- hellyhansen
Outdoor Research
1 branded search term
- outdoor research
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