<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001351952-15-000043.txt : 20150401
<SEC-HEADER>0001351952-15-000043.hdr.sgml : 20150401
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20150401141245
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001351952-15-000043
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20150330
FILED AS OF DATE:		20150401
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20150401

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			COLUMBIA SPORTSWEAR CO
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001050797
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	APPAREL & OTHER FINISHED PRODS OF FABRICS & SIMILAR MATERIAL [2300]
		IRS NUMBER:				930498284
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			OR
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		14375 NW SCIENCE PARK DRIVE
		CITY:			PORTLAND
		STATE:			OR
		ZIP:			97229
		BUSINESS PHONE:		503 985 4000

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		14375 NW SCIENCE PARK DRIVE
		CITY:			PORTLAND
		STATE:			OR
		ZIP:			97229

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			Gaylord Christopher A.
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001582598

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-23939
		FILM NUMBER:		15742561

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		14375 NW SCIENCE PARK DR.
		CITY:			PORTLAND
		STATE:			OR
		ZIP:			97229
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
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<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
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    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2015-03-30</periodOfReport>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001050797</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>COLUMBIA SPORTSWEAR CO</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>COLM</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001582598</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Gaylord Christopher A.</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O COLUMBIA SPORTSWEAR COMPANY</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>14375 NW SCIENCE PARK DRIVE</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>PORTLAND</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>OR</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>97229</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>President, Mountain Hardwear</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
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            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
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            <transactionDate>
                <value>2015-03-30</value>
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                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>M</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
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            <transactionAmounts>
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                    <value>2552</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
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                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
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                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
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                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
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                <transactionPricePerShare>
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        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
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                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
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                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
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        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
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            <transactionDate>
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                </natureOfOwnership>
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        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
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    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Restricted Stock Units</value>
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            <transactionDate>
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                    <value>2552</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2013-03-30</value>
                <footnoteId id="F4"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2016-03-30</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>2552</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
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                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>2552</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
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                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
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                </natureOfOwnership>
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        </derivativeTransaction>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Restricted Stock Units</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
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            <transactionDate>
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            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>M</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>1998</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2012-03-31</value>
                <footnoteId id="F4"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2015-03-31</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>1998</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>0</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Shares surrendered to the Company as payment to satisfy tax withholding obligation in connection with the vesting of the restricted stock units.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Each restricted stock unit represents a right to receive one share of COLM common stock.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">On September 26, 2014 the RSUs were adjusted to reflect COLM 2-for-1 stock split.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F4">25% of the restricted stock units shall vest annually (a) on the first anniverary of the first day of the first full calendar month following the award date (the &quot;Vest Date&quot;), and (b) on each of the three subsequent anniversaries following the first anniversary of the Vest Date.  Vested shares will be delivered to the reporting person on the designated vest dates.  If a vesting date falls on a weekend or any other day on which the Nasdaq Stock Market (&quot;NSM&quot;) or any national securities exchange on which the Common Stock then is principally traded (the &quot;Exchange&quot;) is not open, affected RSUs shall vest on the next following NSM or Exchange business day, as the case may be.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Peter J. Bragdon, Attorney-in-Fact</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2015-04-01</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
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</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
