Catalog Browse & Search Experience

How should users find gear in the global catalog?

A

Search-First

Big search bar dominates. Tags below as quick filters. Type naturally: "waterproof handlebar bag under 200g". Results appear as you type.

Global Catalog โ€” Search-First
Bikepacking Bags Waterproof Ultralight Shelter Cooking
Type to search or click tags to filter
Revelate Designs Pika
Handlebar Bag
โ˜… 4.6
128g $85 24 owners
bikepacking handlebar waterproof
Apidura Racing HB Pack
Handlebar Bag
โ˜… 4.4
105g $72 18 owners
bikepacking handlebar ultralight

Pros

  • Natural language friendly
  • Fast for users who know what they want
  • Tags as quick filters below search

Cons

  • Empty state before typing
  • Browsing requires typing first
B

Browse-First with Search

Category tiles for discovery with trending items. Search bar prominent but browsing is the default. Great for "I don't know exactly what I need yet."

Global Catalog โ€” Browse-First
Popular Categories
๐ŸŽ’
Bags
342 items
๐Ÿ•๏ธ
Shelter
128 items
๐Ÿณ
Cooking
94 items
๐Ÿšฒ
Bike Parts
215 items
๐Ÿ’ก
Lights
67 items
๐Ÿงญ
Navigation
43 items
Trending
Revelate Designs Pika
128g ยท $85 ยท โ˜… 4.6
24 owners
Ortlieb Fork-Pack
310g ยท $55 ยท โ˜… 4.3
19 owners

Pros

  • Great for discovery and browsing
  • Never an empty state
  • Shows what's popular in the community

Cons

  • Categories need curation
  • Slower for targeted searches