How are they? What is the buying process like?

I bought a 50X silver beaver 5 years ago and love it.
Got a stain on it last year and they cleaned it while I waited with no charge.

Son bought one last month. 50X. Loves it. Great looking hat.

Great hats

I had one made. They did a good job of fitting me and it's a good hat. It took a couple of months before they called and said it was ready. They put a higher crown on it than I like, so I had to pull it down a good bit.

Have 1. Good hat. Can't recall how long it took to make.
My next one will be from Trent at Greeley Hat Works. Met him last week at NCBA.

Have a straw and a felt from them, both are good hats.

Buying process? Go in and pick out what you want, have them shape it, pay for it and walk out. That's about it.

Yeah they keep a lot of stock but they may not have your specific grade in the size you need in the color you want on hand. I had to wait a couple months.

I also buy a straw from them every spring. They stock the heavy duty American hats.

I also have hats from Rocky Mountain Hatters in Grand Junction, CO and Texas Hatters who moved to Lockhart. I prefer Catelena.

CactusThomas said:

---

Yeah they keep a lot of stock but they may not have your specific grade in the size you need in the color you want on hand. I had to wait a couple months.

I also buy a straw from them every spring. They stock the heavy duty American hats.

---

You buy a hat every spring that you wear half the year? Something ain't right here.

Yes. To each their own.

Maybe he works harder than you, p***y.

I've got one that I've been wearing since 2008; been a good hat. Thinking of getting one from Standard Hat Works out of Waco. Any experience from them would be appreciated as well.

Well, ***** Go on with your bad self.

Not sure I would call some heavy duty that you had to replace after half a year, but I am clearly not in my lane so I will get out of the way. Carry on hat gents.

American makes different levels of quality. Catalena carries the nice ones. Not all American hats are the same! That why I called them heavy duty. They are not the same as the $40 ones on Amazon.

Have a few hats from them, all great.

You go in, pick the color and grade you want, they size you, shape it how you want it and go. Not much to it.

I stopped in the other day and they barely had any stock... Said itd be 2 months at the earliest FYI. Might want to call beforehand

Worth the wait!

Does anyone use these for work? Not work like you wore it to the office. Most look like they end up worn seldomly. That's fine. Of course they will last that way. There is nothing wrong with that, but how do these hold up to daily use in sun, rain, brush, getting knocked off and possibly stepped on. For my money, I'd rather use a boot barn hat for this kind of work, but I'm curious how these would actually hold up for the money. Obviously they are a higher quality and typically that correlates to longer lifespan, but is this true? Can you wear these like a nasty pair of boots and have them last?

My last nice felt hat was only worn to nice events and shows….so I could keep it nice…but last year my new puppy jumped up on the table and credenza and it was on the floor in 58 tiny pieces. I've been debating getting a new one or just saying **** it and sticking to the boot barn felts for $100 that I don't have to fret too much over.

I see Catalena hats on Facebook frequently. I'd consider that even though it's a little gross. But again, most of those look like there weren't worn except before walking out the door with it.

Jason_InfinityRoofer said:

---

Does anyone use these for work? Not work like you wore it to the office. Most look like they end up worn seldomly. That's fine. Of course they will last that way. There is nothing wrong with that, but how do these hold up to daily use in sun, rain, brush, getting knocked off and possibly stepped on. For my money, I'd rather use a boot barn hat for this kind of work, but I'm curious how these would actually hold up for the money. Obviously they are a higher quality and typically that correlates to longer lifespan, but is this true? Can you wear these like a nasty pair of boots and have them last?

My last nice felt hat was only worn to nice events and shows….so I could keep it nice…but last year my new puppy jumped up on the table and credenza and it was on the floor in 58 tiny pieces. I've been debating getting a new one or just saying **** it and sticking to the boot barn felts for $100 that I don't have to fret too much over.

I see Catalena hats on Facebook frequently. I'd consider that even though it's a little gross. But again, most of those look like there weren't worn except before walking out the door with it.

---

In my humble opinion a man needs four hats.
Work hats and Sunday go to meeting hats.
My 50X Catalina is my Sunday go to meeting hat.

Milwaukees Best Light said:

---

You buy a hat every spring that you wear half the year? Something ain't right here.

---

Username checks out…. Also, Possibly allergic to sweat…

Felt hats have been worn for work for 100's of years. It's a tool when working not a look. It will hold up but it will get sweaty, dirty, deformed, scuffed up, and etc but it'll still do it's job as a tool. In the winter, a felt hat and a neck rag will keep you a lot warmer than you think to the point of sweating. In the summer a good straw will allow the breeze to come through and keep that hot sun off your face and neck.

Will they get jacked up? Yea. To some it's a badge of honor just like worn out boots. Quality hats handle the wear and tear. To me, that 50X hat would be my work hat and a 10x would be my go to Church hat.

I've sent my hat back to Catalena after the season and they have done a bang up job of cleaning and restoring when needed. I think it was like $125 at the time. Heck of deal when it comes back looking brand new and then you can start all over again.

To answer the OP, Catalena is solid. Quality lids and will keep taking care of them for you as long as they are in business.

Jason_InfinityRoofer said:

---

Does anyone use these for work? Not work like you wore it to the office. Most look like they end up worn seldomly. That's fine. Of course they will last that way. There is nothing wrong with that, but how do these hold up to daily use in sun, rain, brush, getting knocked off and possibly stepped on. For my money, I'd rather use a boot barn hat for this kind of work, but I'm curious how these would actually hold up for the money. Obviously they are a higher quality and typically that correlates to longer lifespan, but is this true? Can you wear these like a nasty pair of boots and have them last?

My last nice felt hat was only worn to nice events and shows….so I could keep it nice…but last year my new puppy jumped up on the table and credenza and it was on the floor in 58 tiny pieces. I've been debating getting a new one or just saying **** it and sticking to the boot barn felts for $100 that I don't have to fret too much over.

I see Catalena hats on Facebook frequently. I'd consider that even though it's a little gross. But again, most of those look like there weren't worn except before walking out the door with it.

---

What is gross?

Have three from Catalina -- a straw off the shelf work hat and two felts. All great and the people were great when I went in. They made sure the hats were formed exactly how I wanted and did not mind when I asked for small changes.

I'll make the four-hour trip to go there again.

Santa Fe has a hatter just off the square. https://ofarrellhatco.com/ Their hats take at least a year to make. I've always heard great things about them and they are nice and professional when I've been in there. But, I just can't pull the trigger on price. Maybe someday.

I haven't bought one from them yet but planning on it for this upcoming felt hat season. Called them a couple weeks ago and they said it would be a 2 month minimum for out of stock items.

Bigballin said:

---

I haven't bought one from them yet but planning on it for this upcoming felt hat season. Called them a couple weeks ago and they said it would be a 2 month minimum for out of stock items.

---

Leadership's response to Covid is destroying this country.

hillcountryag86 said:

---

Bigballin said:

---

I haven't bought one from them yet but planning on it for this upcoming felt hat season. Called them a couple weeks ago and they said it would be a 2 month minimum for out of stock items.

---

Leadership's response to Covid is destroying this country.

---

100% true but I waited 2+ months back in 2017.

AgBQ-00 said:

---

How are they? What is the buying process like?

---

good hats. walk in, pick what you want, they shape it, buy it, walk out. unless of course what you want they dont have in stock.


Is the short brim hat fad still a thing? I've got a nice one I used to always wear then I noticed several years ago everyone was wearing them and people were buying stetson one's at like random outdoor/fishing type stores?

Is High Brehm in new Braunfels still open? I haven't been by in 3 years or so. My family and I have been using them for 40+ years I'd imagine. I heard the guy that ran it may be retiring soon though

Buying a Catalena on marketplace for 90 bucks because someone didn't use it. The idea of used hats is not ideal but it's the same hat for hundreds less.

Jason_InfinityRoofer said:

---

Buying a Catalena on marketplace for 90 bucks because someone didn't use it. The idea of used hats is not ideal but it's the same hat for hundreds less.

---

I wouldn't do it. Sizing can vary on age, amount of wear, etc. Every size doesn't fit the same.

rak1693 said:

---

Is High Brehm in new Braunfels still open? I haven't been by in 3 years or so. My family and I have been using them for 40+ years I'd imagine. I heard the guy that ran it may be retiring soon though

---

They are still there.

Have 3 straws and 3 felts off the shelf from them and have been pleased with their products and the time and attention they gave me. Not sure whether they still do this but I've had several hats (not Catalina) which were given to me and needed "fixin'" For a very reasonable fee they very graciously worked with me to shape the hat, replace sweatbands, and do other minor things. They have always been very accommodating.

AustinCountyAg said:

---

Jason_InfinityRoofer said:

---

Buying a Catalena on marketplace for 90 bucks because someone didn't use it. The idea of used hats is not ideal but it's the same hat for hundreds less.

---

I wouldn't do it. Sizing can vary on age, amount of wear, etc. Every size doesn't fit the same.

---

Vary? 7 1/8" LO is different in 2022 than 1995 on equipment they've been using since they opened ?

Must be the inflation! FJB!