Brandwave

How popular isMerrell?

In September 2026, people searched for Merrell by name about 6,620 times in New Zealand, a 22.1% increase from the previous year. These searches made up 13.1% of all New Zealand hiking footwear brand searches, placing Merrell third out of nine brands. When we asked both ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about hiking footwear brands, Merrell appeared in four of the five answers and was the second most recommended of the nine.

Search and AI answers in September 2026

Merrell is the third most searched of 9 competitors and the second 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, Merrell was mentioned in four out of five: in two of the three ChatGPT answers and in both Google AI Overviews. Merrell is the second 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 Merrell?

Merrell 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 Merrell and its closest rivals

Every comparison with Merrell

23 comparisons

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

3 findings
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, estimated monthly branded searches for Merrell in New Zealand rose from 5.4K to 6.6K.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Merrell’s share of searches among hiking footwear brands in New Zealand increased from 11.1% to 13.1%.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Merrell’s share of searches among hiking footwear brands in New Zealand peaked at 13.2% in July 2026 and was lowest at 10.8% in December 2025.

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 Merrell’s branded searches counted?

9 search terms

Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Merrell’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.

  • merrell
  • merrell boots
  • merrell hiking boots
  • merrell hiking shoes
  • merrell hydro moc
  • merrell moab
  • merrell outlet
  • merrell sandals
  • merrell shoes

Do you work for Merrell? 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 Merrell compete?

Merrell is ranked in six competitor sets. Each share is worked out among that set's brands, so it differs from set to set.
Competitor setRankShare of searchesRanking
Boot brands6th of 106.4%Show ranking
Waterproof boots brands3rd of 88.6%Show ranking
Men's boot brands4th of 88.7%Show ranking
Hiking footwear brands3rd of 913.1%Shown above
Walking boot brands2nd of 719.3%Show ranking
Hiking shoe brands2nd of 719.3%Show ranking
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Is Merrell your brand?

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