Merrell vs Red Wing:Which is more popular?
In September 2026, Red Wing had more branded searches than Merrell among boot brands worldwide. Red Wing had about 550,000 branded searches, while Merrell had 40,500. Red Wing made up 4.3% of all boot brand searches we track, and Merrell accounted for 0.32%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about boot brands, Red Wing appeared in three of the four answers and Merrell in none.
Who do people search for more?
Red Wing, about 14 searches for every 1 for Merrell
Who does AI mention more?
Red Wing, mentioned in 3 of 4 answers, Merrell in 0
Who does AI recommend more?
Red Wing, the only one of the two named
Follow Merrell vs Red Wing and get free monthly updates on what changed
By continuing you'll get index updates and occasional product news from Brandwave. Unsubscribe any time. Privacy
Top boot brands in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews
In three ChatGPT questions and one Google AI Overview, Red Wing was mentioned in three out of four: in all three ChatGPT answers, but not in the Google AI Overview. Merrell did not appear in any of the four answers.
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.
Blundstone4 of 4Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 1 Google answers- Red Wing3 of 4Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 1 Google answers
Thursday Boot Company3 of 4Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 1 Google answers
Ariat2 of 4Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 1 Google answers
Danner2 of 4Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 1 Google answers
Dr. Martens1 of 4Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 1 Google answers
UGG0 of 4Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 1 Google answers
Timberland0 of 4Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 1 Google answers
Sorel0 of 4Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 1 Google answers
Merrell0 of 4Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 1 Google answers
See every answer about boot brands
4 answers
Asked ChatGPT
“Which boot brand should I buy?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What are the best boot brands?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What's the best boot brand for everyday wear?”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“boots for work”
Google showed no AI Overview for this search.
Searched Google, AI Overview
“comfortable boots”
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 19, 2026.
Is Merrell or Red Wing more popular in search?
This chart shows how often people search Google for Merrell and Red Wing by name. Each line represents a brand's share of searches for all 11 boot brands we track, month by month, from English-language searches worldwide.
Share of searches by month for Red Wing, Merrell. The figures are in the table below the chart.
View monthly share of searches table
| Month | UGG | Timberland | Dr. Martens | Ariat | Red Wing | Blundstone | Thursday Boot Company | Sorel | Danner | Redback | Merrell |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 2025 | 49.3% | 18.1% | 12.1% | 3.6% | 8.1% | 3.6% | 2.5% | 1.3% | 0.89% | 0.33% | 0.15% |
| Nov 2025 | 56.7% | 17.1% | 9.4% | 3.4% | 5.1% | 3.4% | 2.3% | 1.5% | 0.84% | 0.21% | 0.08% |
| Dec 2025 | 54.3% | 16.3% | 10.9% | 4% | 6% | 3.3% | 2.3% | 1.5% | 0.98% | 0.24% | 0.09% |
| Jan 2026 | 43.8% | 19.6% | 13.1% | 3.9% | 10.7% | 3.2% | 2.4% | 1.8% | 0.97% | 0.35% | 0.19% |
| Feb 2026 | 39.8% | 21.8% | 14.6% | 5.4% | 8% | 3.6% | 3.1% | 1.6% | 1.3% | 0.48% | 0.32% |
| Mar 2026 | 27.6% | 18.5% | 15.1% | 6.8% | 22.6% | 3% | 3.1% | 1.4% | 1.1% | 0.5% | 0.33% |
| Apr 2026 | 24.7% | 24.7% | 16.5% | 9.1% | 13.5% | 3.3% | 4.1% | 1.5% | 1.5% | 0.67% | 0.55% |
| May 2026 | 30.8% | 25.2% | 16.8% | 9.3% | 6.2% | 3.4% | 4.2% | 1.5% | 1.2% | 0.68% | 0.68% |
| Jun 2026 | 29.7% | 24.3% | 16.2% | 10.9% | 7.3% | 3.3% | 3.9% | 1.2% | 1.8% | 0.66% | 0.66% |
| Jul 2026 | 31.9% | 26.1% | 17.4% | 7.8% | 6.4% | 2.9% | 3.4% | 1.3% | 1.3% | 0.71% | 0.71% |
| Aug 2026 | 41.4% | 22.7% | 15.2% | 6.8% | 4.6% | 3% | 3.1% | 1.1% | 1.1% | 0.5% | 0.5% |
| Sep 2026 | 48.4% | 17.7% | 14.5% | 5.3% | 4.3% | 3.6% | 3.1% | 1.3% | 1.1% | 0.48% | 0.32% |
How has the Merrell and Red Wing comparison changed over the last 12 months?
3 findings
- Red Wing was ahead of Merrell in every measured month of the 12 months ending September 2026.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Merrell’s share of searches among boot brands worldwide moved from 0.15% to 0.32%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 27.1K to 40.5K.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Red Wing’s share of searches among boot brands worldwide moved from 8.1% to 4.3%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 1.5M to 550K.
How did search popularity change for boot brands worldwide in September 2026?
2 changes
Red Wing’s share of searches among boot brands worldwide has lost ground for 3 months in a row, from 7.3% to 4.3% in September 2026.
In September 2026, Merrell fell from 10th to 11th among boot brands worldwide.
How are branded searches counted?
2 search terms
Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Merrell’s and Red Wing’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 boot brands
Put your own brand in this comparison
Brandwave tracks your branded demand next to the rival you actually watch, with your campaigns, spend and outcomes on the same timeline.