Brandwave

Rip Curl vs Volcom:Which is more popular?

In September 2026, Rip Curl had more branded searches than Volcom among surf brands in New Zealand. Rip Curl had about 6,130 branded searches, while Volcom had 1,570. Rip Curl made up 33.6% of all surf brand searches we track, and Volcom accounted for 8.6%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about surf brands, Rip Curl appeared in all five answers and Volcom in two. Rip Curl was mentioned before Volcom in four out of five answers.

Among surf brands in New Zealand in September 2026

Who do people search for more?

Rip Curl, about 4 searches for every 1 for Volcom

Rip Curl 6.1K searchesVolcom 1.6K searches

Who does AI mention more?

Rip Curl, mentioned in every answer we collected

Rip Curl in 5 of 5Volcom in 2 of 5

Who does AI recommend more?

Rip Curl, named ahead of Volcom in 4 of 5 answers

Rip Curl first in 4Volcom first in 1

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Top surf brands in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews

In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, Rip Curl appeared in all five answers. Volcom was mentioned in two out of five: not in any of the three ChatGPT answers, but in both Google AI Overviews. Rip Curl was listed before Volcom in four out of five answers.

Most recommended by AI

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

  1. Rip Curl1st
  2. Billabong2nd
  3. Seventhwave3rd
  4. Roxy4th
  5. JS Industries5th
  6. Gemma Lee6th
  7. Volcom7th
  8. Quiksilver8th
  9. O'Neill9th
  10. Salty Crew–

Mentioned by AI

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

  • Rip Curl5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • Billabong3 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • JS Industries3 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Volcom2 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • O'Neill2 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Quiksilver2 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Roxy2 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Seventhwave2 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • Gemma Lee2 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • Salty Crew0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers

See every answer about surf 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.

Is Rip Curl or Volcom more popular in search?

This chart shows how often people search Google for Rip Curl and Volcom by name. Each line represents a brand's share of searches for all ten surf brands we track, month by month, from searches in New Zealand.

Rip Curl and Volcom among surf brands in New Zealand, by month

Share of searches by month for Rip Curl, Volcom. The figures are in the table below the chart.

View monthly share of searches table
MonthBillabongRip CurlVolcomSalty CrewO'NeillQuiksilverRoxySeventhwaveGemma LeeJS Industries
Oct 202530.3%36.7%7.2%9.1%5.9%4.9%3.2%1.6%0.55%0.55%
Nov 202530.9%36.8%5.2%10.7%5.2%4.5%3.8%1.6%0.85%0.46%
Dec 202528.7%38.3%5.6%11.2%5.7%4.1%3.1%2%0.71%0.47%
Jan 202630.3%38.4%6.5%7.5%6.6%4%3.5%2%0.59%0.59%
Feb 202630.7%36%6.8%7.3%7.8%5.1%2.9%1.9%0.82%0.82%
Mar 202629.6%35.7%8.6%7.4%7.6%5.1%2.4%1.9%0.65%1%
Apr 202633.3%33.5%9.1%7%7.1%4.1%2.2%2.1%0.38%1.2%
May 202630.7%30.7%10.3%9.3%7.8%5.2%2.4%1.9%0.83%1%
Jun 202626.6%34.2%11.2%8.4%8.1%6.2%2.2%1.7%0.45%0.89%
Jul 202627%34.2%12.1%8.5%7.9%5%2.5%1.6%0.43%0.68%
Aug 202631.4%32.3%11.2%7.9%7.1%4.3%3.1%1.5%0.65%0.53%
Sep 202635.5%33.6%8.6%6.9%6.5%3.3%3.2%1.2%0.6%0.6%

How has the Rip Curl and Volcom comparison changed over the last 12 months?

3 findings
  • Rip Curl was ahead of Volcom in every measured month of the 12 months ending September 2026.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Rip Curl’s share of searches among surf brands in New Zealand moved from 36.7% to 33.6%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 7.4K to 6.1K.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Volcom’s share of searches among surf brands in New Zealand moved from 7.2% to 8.6%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 1.4K to 1.6K.

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

3 changes

  1. In September 2026, Billabong overtook Rip Curl to become the leader among surf brands in New Zealand, with 35.5% of the searches.

  2. In September 2026, Rip Curl gained share of searches among surf brands in New Zealand, from 32.3% to 33.6%.

  3. In September 2026, Volcom lost share of searches among surf brands in New Zealand, from 11.2% to 8.6%.

How are branded searches counted?

27 search terms

Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Rip Curl’s and Volcom’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.

Rip Curl

14 branded search terms

  • rip curl
  • rip curl boardshorts
  • rip curl clothing
  • rip curl outlet
  • rip curl sale
  • rip curl shirts
  • rip curl swimwear
  • rip curl togs
  • rip curl wetsuit
  • ripcurl
  • ripcurl boardshorts
  • ripcurl clothing
  • ripcurl rashvest
  • ripcurl wetsuit

Volcom

13 branded search terms

  • volcom
  • volcom boardshorts
  • volcom coats
  • volcom denim
  • volcom hoodie
  • volcom logos
  • volcom shirts
  • volcom ski gear
  • volcom stone
  • volcom t shirts
  • volcom wear
  • volcom wetsuit
  • volcom winter jacket

How the Brand Demand Index is measured

Other head-to-heads among surf brands

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