Brandwave

KEEN vs LOWA:Which is more popular?

In September 2026, KEEN had more branded searches than LOWA among hiking footwear brands in New Zealand. KEEN had about 1,620 branded searches, while LOWA had 900. KEEN made up 6.1% of all hiking footwear brand searches we track, and LOWA accounted for 3.4%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about hiking footwear brands, LOWA appeared in four of the five answers and KEEN in two. LOWA was mentioned before KEEN in four out of five answers.

Among hiking footwear brands in New Zealand in September 2026

Who do people search for more?

KEEN, about 80% more searches than LOWA

KEEN 1.6K searchesLOWA 900 searches

Who does AI mention more?

LOWA, mentioned in 4 of 5 answers, KEEN in 2

LOWA in 4 of 5KEEN in 2 of 5

Who does AI recommend more?

LOWA, named ahead of KEEN in 4 of 5 answers

LOWA first in 4KEEN first in 1

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Top hiking footwear brands in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews

In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, LOWA was mentioned in four out of five: in all three ChatGPT answers and in one of the two Google AI Overviews. KEEN was mentioned in two out of five: in one of the three ChatGPT answers and in one of the two Google AI Overviews. LOWA was listed before KEEN in four out of five answers.

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.

Is KEEN or LOWA more popular in search?

This chart shows how often people search Google for KEEN and LOWA by name. Each line represents a brand's share of searches for all nine hiking footwear brands we track, month by month, from searches in New Zealand.

KEEN and LOWA among hiking footwear brands in New Zealand, by month

Share of searches by month for KEEN, 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%

How has the KEEN and LOWA comparison changed over the last 12 months?

3 findings
  • KEEN was ahead of LOWA in every measured month of the 12 months ending September 2026.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, KEEN’s share of searches among hiking footwear brands in New Zealand moved from 6.2% to 6.1%, and its estimated monthly branded searches held steady at 1.6K.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, LOWA’s share of searches among hiking footwear brands in New Zealand moved from 3% to 3.4%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 810 to 900.

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

1 change

  1. Estimated monthly branded searches for LOWA in New Zealand rose 11.1% over 12 measured months, from 810 to 900 in September 2026.

How are branded searches counted?

7 search terms

Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using KEEN’s and LOWA’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.

KEEN

4 branded search terms

  • keen hiking boots nz
  • keen nz
  • keen sandals nz
  • keen shoes nz

LOWA

3 branded search terms

  • lowa
  • lowa hiking footwear
  • lowa renegade

How the Brand Demand Index is measured

Other head-to-heads among hiking footwear brands

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