REI Co-op vs Zpacks:Which is more popular?
In September 2026, REI Co-op had more branded searches than Zpacks among backpacking tent brands worldwide. REI Co-op had about 74,000 branded searches, while Zpacks had 60,500. REI Co-op made up 39.7% of all backpacking tent brand searches we track, and Zpacks accounted for 32.5%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about backpacking tent brands, REI Co-op and Zpacks each appeared in four of the five answers. REI Co-op was mentioned before Zpacks in three out of four answers.
Who do people search for more?
REI Co-op, about 22% more searches than Zpacks
Who does AI mention more?
Both were mentioned in 4 of 5 answers.
Who does AI recommend more?
REI Co-op, named ahead of Zpacks in 3 of 4 answers
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Top backpacking tent brands in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews
In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, REI Co-op was mentioned in four out of five: in all three ChatGPT answers and in one of the two Google AI Overviews. Zpacks was mentioned in four out of five: in two of the three ChatGPT answers and in both Google AI Overviews. REI Co-op was listed before Zpacks in three out of 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.
Big Agnes5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
Durston Gear5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers- REI Co-op4 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
Zpacks4 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
Nemo4 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
MSR3 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
See every answer about backpacking tent brands
5 answers
Asked ChatGPT
“Which backpacking tent brand should I buy?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What are the best backpacking tent brands?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What's the best backpacking tent brand for lightweight camping?”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“best backpacking tent”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“lightweight backpacking tent”
Brands are shown in the order each answer named them. The survey took place in the United States on October 20, 2026.
Is REI Co-op or Zpacks more popular in search?
This chart shows how often people search Google for REI Co-op and Zpacks by name. Each line represents a brand's share of searches for all six backpacking tent brands we track, month by month, from English-language searches worldwide.
Share of searches by month for REI Co-op, Zpacks. The figures are in the table below the chart.
View monthly share of searches table
| Month | REI Co-op | Zpacks | Big Agnes | Nemo | Durston Gear | MSR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 2025 | 40.2% | 32.9% | 14.7% | 5.6% | 6.5% | 0.09% |
| Nov 2025 | 47.1% | 31.7% | 11.6% | 4.4% | 5.1% | 0.06% |
| Dec 2025 | 45.3% | 37.3% | 9.1% | 4.2% | 4% | 0.06% |
| Jan 2026 | 42% | 34.3% | 12.6% | 4.7% | 6.3% | 0.1% |
| Feb 2026 | 37.5% | 37.5% | 13.7% | 5.2% | 6.1% | 0.09% |
| Mar 2026 | 42.4% | 28.4% | 15.5% | 5.9% | 7.7% | 0.1% |
| Apr 2026 | 37.3% | 30.5% | 16.7% | 6.3% | 9.1% | 0.11% |
| May 2026 | 40.5% | 27.1% | 18.1% | 6.9% | 7.3% | 0.12% |
| Jun 2026 | 38.9% | 26% | 17.4% | 8% | 9.5% | 0.14% |
| Jul 2026 | 37% | 24.8% | 20.3% | 7.6% | 10.1% | 0.16% |
| Aug 2026 | 40.2% | 26.9% | 18% | 6.8% | 8% | 0.14% |
| Sep 2026 | 39.7% | 32.5% | 14.5% | 6.7% | 6.4% | 0.09% |
How has the REI Co-op and Zpacks comparison changed over the last 12 months?
3 findings
- REI Co-op was ahead of Zpacks in every measured month of the 12 months ending September 2026.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, REI Co-op’s share of searches among backpacking tent brands worldwide moved from 40.2% to 39.7%, and its estimated monthly branded searches held steady at 74K.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Zpacks’ share of searches among backpacking tent brands worldwide moved from 32.9% to 32.5%, and its estimated monthly branded searches held steady at 60.5K.
How did search popularity change for backpacking tent brands worldwide in September 2026?
1 change
In September 2026, Zpacks gained share of searches among backpacking tent brands worldwide, from 26.9% to 32.5%.
How are branded searches counted?
2 search terms
Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using REI Co-op’s and Zpacks’ 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 backpacking tent brands
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