<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001351952-18-000051.txt : 20180703
<SEC-HEADER>0001351952-18-000051.hdr.sgml : 20180703
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20180703181920
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001351952-18-000051
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20180702
FILED AS OF DATE:		20180703
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20180703

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			ALBERS MURREY R
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001205137

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-23939
		FILM NUMBER:		18938843

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
</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>2018-07-02</periodOfReport>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001205137</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>ALBERS MURREY R</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>2018-07-02</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>M</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>365</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>26412</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>400</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>By Wife</value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Restricted Stock Units</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2018-07-02</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>M</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>365</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2017-07-01</value>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <footnoteId id="F3"/>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>365</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>365</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Each restricted stock unit represents a right to receive one share of COLM common stock.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">On 6/10/2016 the reporting person was granted 1,095 restricted stock units, one-third of the restricted stock units vest annually (a) on 7/1/2017 (the &quot;Initial Vest Date&quot;), and (b) on each of the two subsequent anniversaries of the Initial Vest Date.  One share of Common Stock will be automatically delivered to the reporting person for each restricted stock unit that vests.  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>
        <footnote id="F3">N/A</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Lindsey Kantawee, Attorney-in-Fact</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2018-07-03</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
