HOKA vs Merrell:Which is more popular?
In September 2026, HOKA had more branded searches than Merrell among walking boot brands in New Zealand. HOKA had about 11,700 branded searches, while Merrell had 3,480. HOKA made up 64.9% of all walking boot brand searches we track, and Merrell accounted for 19.3%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about walking boot brands, Merrell appeared in all three answers and HOKA in none.
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Top walking boot brands in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews
In three ChatGPT questions, Merrell appeared in all three answers. HOKA did not appear in any of the three 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.
See every answer about walking boot brands
3 answers
Asked ChatGPT
“Which walking boot brand should I buy in New Zealand?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What are the best walking boot brands in New Zealand?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What's the best walking boot brand in New Zealand for wet weather walking?”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“best walking boots”
Google showed no AI Overview for this search.
Searched Google, AI Overview
“hiking boots for women”
Google showed no AI Overview for this search.
Brands are shown in the order each answer named them. The survey took place in New Zealand on October 21, 2026.
Is HOKA or Merrell more popular in search?
This chart shows how often people search Google for HOKA and Merrell by name. Each line represents a brand's share of searches for all seven walking boot brands we track, month by month, from searches in New Zealand.
Share of searches by month for HOKA, Merrell. The figures are in the table below the chart.
View monthly share of searches table
| Month | HOKA | Merrell | KEEN | LOWA | Salomon | SCARPA | Meindl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 2025 | 68.1% | 16.6% | 9% | 3.9% | 0.95% | 0.78% | 0.67% |
| Nov 2025 | 68.7% | 16.4% | 10% | 3% | 0.87% | 0.58% | 0.41% |
| Dec 2025 | 70.6% | 14.7% | 10.3% | 2.5% | 0.9% | 0.47% | 0.51% |
| Jan 2026 | 68.6% | 16.1% | 8.9% | 4.2% | 0.98% | 0.66% | 0.56% |
| Feb 2026 | 71.8% | 15.3% | 6.7% | 3.8% | 1.3% | 0.57% | 0.52% |
| Mar 2026 | 67.3% | 15.8% | 8.9% | 4.8% | 1.4% | 1.2% | 0.67% |
| Apr 2026 | 67.9% | 17.6% | 7.9% | 3.6% | 1.3% | 1% | 0.6% |
| May 2026 | 67.3% | 16% | 9.3% | 4.3% | 1.2% | 1.2% | 0.7% |
| Jun 2026 | 67.9% | 16.4% | 9.4% | 3.6% | 1% | 1% | 0.7% |
| Jul 2026 | 63.4% | 19.1% | 10.4% | 4% | 1.1% | 1.1% | 0.82% |
| Aug 2026 | 67% | 17% | 9.1% | 4.2% | 1.2% | 0.97% | 0.57% |
| Sep 2026 | 64.9% | 19.3% | 8.9% | 4.2% | 1.2% | 0.94% | 0.56% |
How has the HOKA and Merrell comparison changed over the last 12 months?
3 findings
- HOKA was ahead of Merrell in every measured month of the 12 months ending September 2026.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, HOKA’s share of searches among walking boot brands in New Zealand moved from 68.1% to 64.9%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 12.2K to 11.7K.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Merrell’s share of searches among walking boot brands in New Zealand moved from 16.6% to 19.3%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 3K to 3.5K.
How did search popularity change for New Zealand walking boot brands in September 2026?
2 changes
In September 2026, Merrell gained share of searches among walking boot brands in New Zealand, from 17% to 19.3%.
In September 2026, HOKA lost share of searches among walking boot brands in New Zealand, from 67% to 64.9%.
How are branded searches counted?
11 search terms
Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using HOKA’s and Merrell’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.
Other head-to-heads among walking boot brands
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