NZ Sock Company vs The Wool Company:Which is more popular?
In September 2026, NZ Sock Company had more branded searches than The Wool Company among sock brands in New Zealand. NZ Sock Company had about 1,420 branded searches, while The Wool Company had 1,300. NZ Sock Company made up 16.4% of all sock brand searches we track, and The Wool Company accounted for 15%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about sock brands, NZ Sock Company and The Wool Company each appeared in two of the five answers. NZ Sock Company was mentioned before The Wool Company in two out of three answers that named either.
Who do people search for more?
NZ Sock Company, about 9% more searches than The Wool Company
Who does AI mention more?
Both were mentioned in 2 of 5 answers.
Who does AI recommend more?
NZ Sock Company, named ahead of The Wool Company in 2 of 3 answers
Follow NZ Sock Company vs The Wool Company and get free monthly updates on what changed
By continuing you'll get index updates and occasional product news from Brandwave. Unsubscribe any time. Privacy
Top sock brands in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews
In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, NZ Sock Company was mentioned in two out of five: in two of the three ChatGPT answers, but not in either of the two Google AI Overviews. The Wool Company was mentioned in two out of five: in one of the three ChatGPT answers and in one of the two Google AI Overviews. NZ Sock Company was listed before The Wool Company in two out of three answers that named either.
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.
Norsewear5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
Icebreaker3 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
NZ Sock Company2 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers- The Wool Company2 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
- Norsewood1 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
Smartwool1 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
Darn Tough1 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
Stance0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
Happy Socks0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
Thorlo0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
See every answer about sock brands
5 answers
Asked ChatGPT
“Which sock brand should I buy in New Zealand?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What are the best sock brands in New Zealand?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What's the best sock brand in New Zealand for everyday wear?”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“comfortable socks”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“merino socks nz”
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 NZ Sock Company or The Wool Company more popular in search?
This chart shows how often people search Google for NZ Sock Company and The Wool Company by name. Each line represents a brand's share of searches for all 11 sock brands we track, month by month, from searches in New Zealand.
Share of searches by month for NZ Sock Company, The Wool Company. The figures are in the table below the chart.
View monthly share of searches table
| Month | Norsewear | Norsewood | NZ Sock Company | The Wool Company | Smartwool | Darn Tough | Stance | Icebreaker | Happy Socks | Thorlo | Lorpen |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 2025 | 13.6% | 27.8% | 13% | 13.6% | 8.5% | 5.9% | 6.5% | 3.5% | 4.5% | 2.9% | 0.14% |
| Nov 2025 | 42.9% | 20.9% | 9% | 6.5% | 5.3% | 3.4% | 4.7% | 1.7% | 3.2% | 2.1% | 0.2% |
| Dec 2025 | 15.3% | 23.6% | 13.1% | 11.7% | 9.5% | 6.2% | 8.5% | 3.1% | 5.8% | 3.1% | 0.23% |
| Jan 2026 | 15.3% | 29.6% | 11.7% | 15.3% | 9.1% | 6.3% | 3.8% | 3.8% | 2.1% | 2.5% | 0.47% |
| Feb 2026 | 12.5% | 37.3% | 11.7% | 12.5% | 8.2% | 6.2% | 4% | 3.2% | 2.2% | 1.7% | 0.37% |
| Mar 2026 | 14% | 27.4% | 12.8% | 17.2% | 8% | 7.3% | 4.2% | 4.2% | 2.4% | 2.3% | 0.22% |
| Apr 2026 | 21.2% | 22.7% | 10.5% | 21.2% | 6.9% | 6.2% | 3.4% | 4.2% | 1.6% | 1.9% | 0.18% |
| May 2026 | 19.8% | 18.1% | 11.7% | 30% | 7.1% | 4.2% | 2.7% | 3.3% | 1.5% | 1.4% | 0.2% |
| Jun 2026 | 21.6% | 15.7% | 10.1% | 26.8% | 8% | 6.4% | 4.4% | 3.6% | 1.6% | 1.6% | 0.22% |
| Jul 2026 | 22% | 16% | 10.5% | 27.3% | 8.3% | 5.5% | 3.6% | 3.6% | 1.6% | 1.3% | 0.3% |
| Aug 2026 | 21.2% | 18.3% | 12% | 21.2% | 10.2% | 5.2% | 3.4% | 4.2% | 2.3% | 1.9% | 0.18% |
| Sep 2026 | 21.9% | 19.7% | 16.4% | 15% | 8.4% | 5.8% | 4.5% | 3% | 2.5% | 2.4% | 0.23% |
How has the NZ Sock Company and The Wool Company comparison changed over the last 12 months?
3 findings
- The lead changed hands 3 times in the 12 months ending September 2026: NZ Sock Company took it in November 2025, The Wool Company took it in January 2026, NZ Sock Company took it in September 2026.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, NZ Sock Company’s share of searches among sock brands in New Zealand moved from 13% to 16.4%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 950 to 1.4K.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, The Wool Company’s share of searches among sock brands in New Zealand moved from 13.6% to 15%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 1K to 1.3K.
How did search popularity change for New Zealand sock brands in September 2026?
3 changes
In September 2026, Norsewood overtook The Wool Company to rank 2nd among sock brands in New Zealand, with 19.7% of the searches.

In September 2026, NZ Sock Company overtook The Wool Company to rank 3rd among sock brands in New Zealand, with 16.4% of the searches.
In September 2026, The Wool Company lost share of searches among sock brands in New Zealand, from 21.2% to 15%.
How are branded searches counted?
4 search terms
Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using NZ Sock Company’s and The Wool Company’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.
NZ Sock Company
3 branded search terms
- nz sock company
- nz sock company ashburton
- the nz sock company
The Wool Company
1 branded search term
- the wool company
Other head-to-heads among sock brands

Put your own brand in this comparison
Brandwave tracks your branded demand next to the rival you actually watch, with your campaigns, spend and outcomes on the same timeline.