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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 TlxjrsztSVCjmRjK6HOnbL4tf1U1+GVPslSMqaw4a5i05M46Xz07xRVF6PMpNam4
 KMVKyeTSQi2OohQLbcw5ig==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001286232-05-000037.txt : 20050611
<SEC-HEADER>0001286232-05-000037.hdr.sgml : 20050611
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20050526181530
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001286232-05-000037
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20050524
FILED AS OF DATE:		20050526
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20050526

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:			BRYANT ANDY D
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001131061

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-23939
		FILM NUMBER:		05861180

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		BUSINESS PHONE:		2128328300

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		INTEL CORPORATION- ATTN: GENERAL COUNCEL
		STREET 2:		2200 MISSION COLLEDGE BOULEVARD
		CITY:			SANTA CLARA
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			95052
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2005-05-24</periodOfReport>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001131061</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>BRYANT ANDY D</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>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Director Stock Option (right to buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>44.85</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2005-05-24</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>5250</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2005-06-01</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2015-05-23</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>5250</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>5250</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Option becomes exercisable ratably over thirty-six months following the grant date.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Peter J. Bragdon, Attorney-in-fact</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2005-05-26</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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