Brandwave

How popular isHOKA?

In September 2026, people searched for HOKA by name about 16,900 times in New Zealand, about the same as the previous year. These searches made up 44.1% of all New Zealand hiking footwear brand searches, placing HOKA first out of nine brands. When we asked both ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about hiking footwear brands, HOKA appeared in three of the five answers and was the fourth most recommended of the nine.

Search and AI answers in September 2026

HOKA is the most searched of 9 competitors and the fourth most recommended in AI answers.

  1. HOKAShare of searches 44.1%Mentioned in 3 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 4th
  2. SalomonShare of searches 19.2%Mentioned in 5 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 1st
  3. MerrellShare of searches 13.1%Mentioned in 4 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 2nd
  4. SCARPAShare of searches 8%Mentioned in 0 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations –
  5. KEENShare of searches 6.1%Mentioned in 2 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 6th

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Top hiking footwear brands in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews

In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, HOKA was mentioned in three out of five: in one of the three ChatGPT answers and in both Google AI Overviews. HOKA is the fourth most recommended of the nine.

Most recommended by AI

Brands get a higher ranking if they are mentioned earlier in the answers.

  1. Salomon1st
  2. Merrell2nd
  3. La Sportiva3rd
  4. HOKA4th
  5. LOWA5th
  6. KEEN6th
  7. SCARPA–
  8. Salewa–
  9. Meindl–

Mentioned by AI

Each dot is one answer, filled in when that answer mentions the brand.

  • Salomon5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • La Sportiva5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • Merrell4 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • LOWA4 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • HOKA3 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • KEEN2 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • SCARPA0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • Salewa0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • Meindl0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers

See every answer about hiking footwear brands

5 answers

Not named in any answer:

Brands are shown in the order each answer named them. The survey took place in New Zealand on October 21, 2026.

Which hiking footwear brands compete with HOKA?

HOKA against hiking footwear brands in New Zealand, by month

Share of searches by month for HOKA, Salomon, Merrell, SCARPA, KEEN, La Sportiva, LOWA. The figures are in the table below the chart.

View monthly share of searches table
MonthHOKASalomonMerrellSCARPAKEENLa SportivaLOWASalewaMeindl
Oct 202545.7%19%11.1%9.7%6.2%3.8%3%1.1%0.45%
Nov 202549.6%18.2%11.8%6.2%7.4%3%2.6%0.84%0.3%
Dec 202552.2%16.2%10.8%5.5%7.7%4.1%2.2%0.82%0.38%
Jan 202647.9%18.4%11.3%6.8%6.3%4.3%3.5%1.1%0.39%
Feb 202651.3%17.2%10.9%7.6%4.9%3.7%3%0.93%0.37%
Mar 202647.3%16.2%11.1%8.4%6.3%5.1%3.9%1.3%0.47%
Apr 202648.4%16.4%12.5%7.6%5.8%4.6%3.1%1.2%0.42%
May 202646.3%18.3%11%7.4%6.5%5.2%3.5%1.3%0.48%
Jun 202646.3%20.2%11.2%6%6.6%5.2%2.9%1.1%0.48%
Jul 202643.7%19.1%13.2%6.9%7.3%4.9%3.3%1.1%0.56%
Aug 202645.4%17.6%11.5%8.1%6.3%6.2%3.2%1.3%0.39%
Sep 202644.1%19.2%13.1%8%6.1%4.9%3.4%0.9%0.38%

  1. 1.HOKA

    44.1%

    Held 1st. 11.7K estimated branded searches, -0.76% vs prior month. Share -1.4 points.

  2. 2.Salomon

    19.2%

    Held 2nd. 5.1K estimated branded searches, +11.4% vs prior month. Share +1.6 points.

  3. 3.Merrell

    13.1%

    Held 3rd. 3.5K estimated branded searches, +16.8% vs prior month. Share +1.6 points.

  4. 4.SCARPA

    8%

    Held 4th. 2.1K estimated branded searches, +0.48% vs prior month. Share -0.1 points.

  5. 5.KEEN

    6.1%

    Held 5th. 1.6K estimated branded searches, -1.2% vs prior month. Share -0.2 points.

  6. 6.La Sportiva

    4.9%

    Held 6th. 1.3K estimated branded searches, -18.8% vs prior month. Share -1.3 points.

  7. 7.LOWA

    3.4%

    Held 7th. 900 estimated branded searches, +7.1% vs prior month. Share +0.2 points.

  8. 8.Salewa

    0.9%

    Held 8th. 240 estimated branded searches, -27.3% vs prior month. Share -0.4 points.

  9. 9.Meindl

    0.38%

    Held 9th. 100 estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share 0 points.

Compare popularity between HOKA and its closest rivals

Every comparison with HOKA

16 comparisons

How has branded search demand for HOKA changed in New Zealand over the last 12 months?

3 findings
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, estimated monthly branded searches for HOKA in New Zealand held steady, from 17.3K to 16.9K.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, HOKA’s share of searches among hiking footwear brands in New Zealand decreased from 45.7% to 44.1%.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, HOKA’s share of searches among hiking footwear brands in New Zealand peaked at 52.2% in December 2025 and was lowest at 43.7% in July 2026.

How did search popularity change for New Zealand hiking footwear brands in September 2026?

6 changes

  1. In September 2026, Merrell gained share of searches among hiking footwear brands in New Zealand, from 11.5% to 13.1%.

  2. In September 2026, Salomon gained share of searches among hiking footwear brands in New Zealand, from 17.6% to 19.2%.

  3. In September 2026, HOKA lost share of searches among hiking footwear brands in New Zealand, from 45.4% to 44.1%.

  4. In September 2026, La Sportiva lost share of searches among hiking footwear brands in New Zealand, from 6.2% to 4.9%.

  5. Estimated monthly branded searches for LOWA in New Zealand rose 11.1% over 12 measured months, from 810 to 900 in September 2026.

  6. Estimated monthly branded searches for SCARPA in New Zealand fell 18.2% over 12 measured months, from 2.6K to 2.1K in September 2026.

How are HOKA’s branded searches counted?

9 search terms

Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using HOKA’s name. When viewed over time, estimated search volumes for these branded terms can be used to understand whether interest in the brand is growing, holding steady, or fading.

  • hoka
  • hoka bondi
  • hoka clifton
  • hoka clifton 9
  • hoka gym shoes
  • hoka shoes
  • hoka speedgoat
  • hoka speedgoat 6
  • hoka trainers

Do you work for HOKA? To request corrections or removal please contact us via our support page and we will be happy to assist.

How the Brand Demand Index is measured

Where does HOKA compete?

HOKA is ranked in four competitor sets. Each share is worked out among that set's brands, so it differs from set to set.
Competitor setRankShare of searchesRanking
Running shoe brands3rd of 711.4%Show ranking
Hiking footwear brands1st of 944.1%Shown above
Walking boot brands1st of 764.9%Show ranking
Hiking shoe brands1st of 764.9%Show ranking
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Is HOKA your brand?

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