Altra vs Columbia:Which is more popular?
In September 2026, Altra had more branded searches than Columbia among hiking shoe brands in New Zealand. Altra had about 880 branded searches, while Columbia had 350. Altra made up 4.9% of all hiking shoe brand searches we track, and Columbia accounted for 1.9%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about hiking shoe brands, Columbia appeared in two of the four answers and Altra in none.
Who do people search for more?
Altra, about 3 searches for every 1 for Columbia
Who does AI mention more?
Columbia, mentioned in 2 of 4 answers, Altra in 0
Who does AI recommend more?
Columbia, the only one of the two named
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Top hiking shoe brands in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews
In three ChatGPT questions and one Google AI Overview, Columbia was mentioned in two out of four: in one of the three ChatGPT answers and in the Google AI Overview. Altra did not appear in any of the four 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.
HOKA4 of 4Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 1 Google answers
Merrell4 of 4Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 1 Google answers
Salomon3 of 4Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 1 Google answers- La Sportiva2 of 4Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 1 Google answers
- Columbia2 of 4Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 1 Google answers
KEEN2 of 4Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 1 Google answers- Altra0 of 4Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 1 Google answers
See every answer about hiking shoe brands
4 answers
Asked ChatGPT
“Which hiking shoe brand should I buy in New Zealand?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What are the best hiking shoe brands in New Zealand?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What's the best hiking shoe brand in New Zealand for day walks?”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“best hiking shoes”
Google showed no AI Overview for this search.
Searched Google, AI Overview
“best walking shoes”
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 Altra or Columbia more popular in search?
This chart shows how often people search Google for Altra and Columbia by name. Each line represents a brand's share of searches for all seven hiking shoe brands we track, month by month, from searches in New Zealand.
Share of searches by month for Altra, Columbia. The figures are in the table below the chart.
View monthly share of searches table
| Month | HOKA | Merrell | La Sportiva | Altra | Columbia | Salomon | KEEN |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 2025 | 69.7% | 16.9% | 5.7% | 4.1% | 1.8% | 1.5% | 0.23% |
| Nov 2025 | 71.9% | 17.2% | 4.3% | 3.8% | 1.2% | 1.3% | 0.3% |
| Dec 2025 | 72.1% | 15% | 5.7% | 3.9% | 1.9% | 1.3% | 0.18% |
| Jan 2026 | 69.6% | 16.4% | 6.2% | 4.2% | 2% | 1.4% | 0.14% |
| Feb 2026 | 71.9% | 15.3% | 5.2% | 3.7% | 1.9% | 1.7% | 0.16% |
| Mar 2026 | 67.7% | 15.9% | 7.3% | 4.9% | 2.1% | 2% | 0.17% |
| Apr 2026 | 67.5% | 17.5% | 6.4% | 4.3% | 2.5% | 1.6% | 0.25% |
| May 2026 | 66.7% | 15.8% | 7.5% | 5.1% | 3.1% | 1.6% | 0.17% |
| Jun 2026 | 66.6% | 16.1% | 7.5% | 5.1% | 3% | 1.5% | 0.23% |
| Jul 2026 | 64.1% | 19.3% | 7.2% | 4.8% | 2.7% | 1.5% | 0.28% |
| Aug 2026 | 65.2% | 16.5% | 8.9% | 4.9% | 2.9% | 1.4% | 0.22% |
| Sep 2026 | 64.9% | 19.3% | 7.2% | 4.9% | 1.9% | 1.6% | 0.11% |
How has the Altra and Columbia comparison changed over the last 12 months?
3 findings
- Altra was ahead of Columbia in every measured month of the 12 months ending September 2026.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Altra’s share of searches among hiking shoe brands in New Zealand moved from 4.1% to 4.9%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 720 to 880.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Columbia’s share of searches among hiking shoe brands in New Zealand moved from 1.8% to 1.9%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 320 to 350.
How did search popularity change for New Zealand hiking shoe brands in September 2026?
2 changes
In September 2026, Columbia lost share of searches among hiking shoe brands in New Zealand, from 2.9% to 1.9%.
Estimated monthly branded searches for Altra in New Zealand rose 22.2% over 12 measured months, from 720 to 880 in September 2026.
How are branded searches counted?
3 search terms
Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Altra’s and Columbia’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 hiking shoe brands
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