<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001351952-16-000141.txt : 20161115
<SEC-HEADER>0001351952-16-000141.hdr.sgml : 20161115
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20161115141938
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001351952-16-000141
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20161114
FILED AS OF DATE:		20161115
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20161115

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:			BANY SARAH
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001079780

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-23939
		FILM NUMBER:		161999143

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		6600 NORTH BALTIMORE
		CITY:			PORTLAND
		STATE:			OR
		ZIP:			97203
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0306</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2016-11-14</periodOfReport>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001079780</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>BANY SARAH</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>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2016-11-14</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>2553</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>59.3489</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>1579136</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2016-11-14</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>2737</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>59.3881</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>804418</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>By DSRA, LLC</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">The price reported in Column 4 is a weighted average price.  These shares were sold in multiple transactions at prices ranging from $59.16 to $59.75, inclusive.  The reporting person undertakes to provide to Columbia Sportswear Company, any security holder of Columbia Sportswear Company, or the staff of the Securities and Exchange Commission, upon request, full information regarding the number of shares sold at each price within the range set forth in this footnote to this Form 4.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">The price reported in Column 4 is a weighted average price.  These shares were sold in multiple transactions at prices ranging from $59.19 to $59.64, inclusive.  The reporting person undertakes to provide to Columbia Sportswear Company, any security holder of Columbia Sportswear Company, or the staff of the Securities and Exchange Commission, upon request, full information regarding the number of shares sold at each price within the range set forth in this footnote to this Form 4.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">DSRA, LLC ownership is allocated as follows: Ms. Bany 5%, Ms. Bany's spouse 5% and the remaining 90% is owned by trust for the benefit of Ms. Bany's family, for which Ms. Bany's spouse is the trustee.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Peter J. Bragdon, Attorney-in-Fact</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2016-11-15</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
