Brandwave

Kathmandu vs Lee:Which is more popular?

In September 2026, Kathmandu had more branded searches than Lee among cargo pants brands in New Zealand. Kathmandu had about 57,600 branded searches, while Lee had 320. Kathmandu made up 20.7% of all cargo pants brand searches we track, and Lee accounted for 0.11%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about cargo pants brands, Kathmandu appeared in four of the five answers and Lee in none.

Among cargo pants brands in New Zealand in September 2026

Who do people search for more?

Kathmandu, about 180 searches for every 1 for Lee

Kathmandu 57.6K searchesLee 320 searches

Who does AI mention more?

Kathmandu, mentioned in 4 of 5 answers, Lee in 0

Kathmandu in 4 of 5Lee in 0 of 5

Who does AI recommend more?

Kathmandu, the only one of the two named

Kathmandu first in 4Lee never named

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Top cargo pants brands in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews

In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, Kathmandu was mentioned in four out of five: in two of the three ChatGPT answers and in both Google AI Overviews. Lee did not appear in any of the five answers.

Most recommended by AI

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

  1. Dickies1st
  2. Kathmandu2nd
  3. I Love Ugly3rd
  4. Cotton On4th
  5. Hard Yakka5th
  6. Levi's–
  7. Lee–

Mentioned by AI

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

  • Kathmandu4 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • Cotton On3 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • I Love Ugly3 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • Dickies3 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • Hard Yakka2 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • Levi's0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • Lee0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers

See every answer about cargo pants 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 20, 2026.

Is Kathmandu or Lee more popular in search?

This chart shows how often people search Google for Kathmandu and Lee by name. Each line represents a brand's share of searches for all seven cargo pants brands we track, month by month, from searches in New Zealand.

Kathmandu and Lee among cargo pants brands in New Zealand, by month

Share of searches by month for Kathmandu, Lee. The figures are in the table below the chart.

View monthly share of searches table
MonthCotton OnKathmanduI Love UglyLevi'sHard YakkaLeeDickies
Oct 202569.2%20.7%8%1.1%0.77%0.14%0.01%
Nov 202565.3%19.5%14%0.67%0.46%0.09%<0.01%
Dec 202568.8%22%8.2%0.56%0.38%0.06%<0.01%
Jan 202666.5%25.6%6.3%0.78%0.72%0.11%<0.01%
Feb 202669.9%21.7%6.7%0.84%0.76%0.14%0.01%
Mar 202669.1%21.1%8.2%0.89%0.65%0.12%<0.01%
Apr 202667%24.9%6.5%0.76%0.69%0.11%<0.01%
May 202668.4%21.6%8.1%0.94%0.77%0.14%<0.01%
Jun 202661%28.1%8.8%0.97%0.94%0.16%<0.01%
Jul 202661.9%28.9%7.3%0.86%0.86%0.16%<0.01%
Aug 202662.3%22.6%13.1%1%0.74%0.16%<0.01%
Sep 202669.4%20.7%8%1.1%0.75%0.11%0.01%

How has the Kathmandu and Lee comparison changed over the last 12 months?

3 findings
  • Kathmandu was ahead of Lee in every measured month of the 12 months ending September 2026.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Kathmandu’s share of searches among cargo pants brands in New Zealand held steady at 20.7%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 57.4K to 57.6K.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Lee’s share of searches among cargo pants brands in New Zealand moved from 0.14% to 0.11%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 390 to 320.

How did search popularity change for New Zealand cargo pants brands in September 2026?

2 changes

  1. In September 2026, Kathmandu lost share of searches among cargo pants brands in New Zealand, from 22.6% to 20.7%.

  2. Estimated monthly branded searches for Lee in New Zealand fell 17.9% over 12 measured months, from 390 to 320 in September 2026.

How are branded searches counted?

20 search terms

Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Kathmandu’s and Lee’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.

Kathmandu

19 branded search terms

  • Kathmandu
  • kathmandu bayfair
  • kathmandu beach shelter
  • kathmandu beach trolley
  • kathmandu botany
  • kathmandu gloves
  • kathmandu lyall bay
  • kathmandu northland
  • kathmandu outlet
  • kathmandu retreat 280
  • kathmandu retreat 80
  • kathmandu socks
  • kathmandu st lukes
  • kathmandu sylvia park
  • kathmandu tower junction
  • kathmandu trolley
  • kathmandu vest
  • kathmandu waitakere
  • kathmandu westgate

Lee

1 branded search term

  • lee jeans

How the Brand Demand Index is measured

Other head-to-heads among cargo pants brands

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