American Surf Magazine sat down with MANERA surfer Pete Devries, a nine-time consecutive Canadian Men’s Champion and winner of 2009 Cold Water Classic from British Columbia. Pete, titled “the ultimate cold-water surfer”, took some time to get into the characteristics and benefits of the ALT wetsuit.
The Alt Range — ALT stands for Alternative — is a greener alternative to conventional wetsuits with performance in mind.
Each wetsuit is made from 100% natural YULEX rubber. Because natural rubber is a renewable resource, it ensures a reduced environmental impact as well as a long-term supply stability.
“If there’s anyone who knows wetsuits, and if there’s anyone who knows Manera’s wide range of wetsuits — including the Alt Range — it’s Pete.” (ASM)
A glimpse into the Q & A session:
ASM: “What are a few qualities of Manera’s wetsuits overall that stand out to you?”
Pete: “I think the biggest thing that stands out about Manera’s wetsuits is the durability. They are just so solid — and made to last.
I’ve never once had a seam open up or blow out in the 5 or so years I’ve been wearing Manera. The craftsmanship is great!”
ASM: “The wetsuit market today is crowded with products. What differentiates Manera’s wetsuits from other options?“
Pete: “With Manera, there is enough stretch, durability, and warmth. It’s really the perfect combination. If you want a suit that feels great and actually lasts I’d suggest you give Manera a try.
The thing I hear time and again is how with certain brands on the market they feel amazing when you first put it on, but after two months the suit is completely blown out and over stretched … then the seams start to go. Manera’s wetsuits just last.
I’ve talked to a bunch of people in the lineups around home that love them and are super happy to have given them a chance.”
ASM: “The Yulex Pure is natural plant based rubber that is a cleaner alternative to petroleum. Do you have any thoughts on this topic, knowing that you’re surfing in sustainable and green-product compared to other wetsuit companies?“
Pete: “I think anything we can do as individuals to impact the environment in a positive way is amazing.
It’s no secret traditional neoprene is not good for the environment, so anything we can do to get away from it is great.
I’m happy Manera takes pride in working to make products that are more environmentally sustainable. Hopefully one day the whole wetsuit market will be more sustainable.”
ASM: “Wetsuits have to be flexible to allow you to do what you want on a wave — as far as flexibility and performance are concerned, what are your thoughts about the suit?“
Pete: “I really feel like they are the perfect combination of flexibility, performance and durability. There is a fine line between each and I am really happy with the way they feel.
Cleanline Surf and Manera recently teamed up, and we’re proud to partner with a premium surf company that offers quality gear ranging from 6mm wetsuits to changing ponchos. The Manera brand isn’t widely known by the average surfer here in the PNW, myself included. You may be wondering, what are they all about? Manera is a family-owned business based in France that exclusively sells high-end wetsuits in selective kite and surf shops.
When given the opportunity to test a Manera suit of my choice, naturally, I gravitated toward the 4/3 X10D Hooded Chest Zip wetsuit. After a month of surfing and putting it through the paces, I’ll share my takeaways in the review below. To sum it up, it’s fair to predict Manera will be on a few more surfer’s radar soon!
“The Manera X10D is the biggest sleeper on the market—a diamond in the rough of sorts. It has the best combination of warmth, performance, and comfort of any 4/3 suit out there. The added flexibility and lightness allow bigger surfers like me to paddle faster, surf better, and enjoy longer sessions”.
Manera X10D Wetsuit
Neoprene and Liners
The Manera X10D wetsuit uses Triplex X10D Layered Neoprene. There’s a lot of industry jargon with the terms below. Essentially, three distinct materials are used in the triplex, each serving a unique purpose to keep the suit warm, light, and durable.
The exterior layer is composed of Re-Flex Skin, a durable and UV-resistant neoprene layer that also incorporates extreme stretch to maximize your mobility.
The middle layer utilizes Air-Foam Neoprene. This layer of neoprene is filled with tiny pockets of air that keep the material light, trap heat, and help insulate your body for warmth even in the harshest conditions.
The interior layer is made of X10D + Fleece and the X10D Jersey. The innovative beige-looking fleece is made from thousands of tiny loops that trap your body’s heat and create a thermal barrier against the cold. The fleece is strategically placed in the core and upper legs, where warmth is needed the most. Lastly, the blue X10D Jersey is used throughout the rest of the suit – lower leg, shoulder, arms, and hood. X10D Jersey is 22% lighter than most competitors’ options, adding to the wetsuit’s overall performance and comfort.
Manera achieves this perfect balance of warmth and lightweight feel, all while using recycled neoprene and dope-dyed yarn. Both eco-friendly practices keep waste out of our landfills and reduce water consumption during the manufacturing process.
Seams & Stitching
Every neoprene panel in the X10D is first glued together and then blind-stitched. Next, a super stretchy SD2 tape is heat welded over the interior seams. This unique process ensures that the seams are 100% waterproof while simultaneously enhancing the suit’s durability and flexibility. In other words, the SD2 tape is the best balance between stretch, strength, and waterproofness.
Fit and Cut
Manera is one of the few wetsuit manufacturers to use computer design to model wetsuits in 3D based on analytics of the human body. They utilize cutting-edge software that converts the 3D model into a precise 2D pattern for the factory to cut and build the suits. The result? Premium wetsuits that fit exactly as advertised while being anatomically sound.
Furthermore, Manera has taken further precautions to ensure their suits fit well and are incredibly comfortable. The design team removed seams in high-tension areas to maximize flexibility and strength while eliminating seams in high-friction areas to reduce rashing. An interesting tidbit: all seams are stretched vertically and not sideways, with reinforcements in high-stress areas to ensure your suit lasts.
I am 6’1” and 205 lbs., and the XL fits me perfectly. In fact, it is one of the most comfortable suits I have ever worn. Our Manera rep mentioned that some people find the hoods to be a bit tight/small. Fortunately, with my average-sized melon, I had no such issues and found the hood to fit well and be very comfortable.
Entry & Zipper
An important fact to note is how easy the Manera X10D is to get on and off. The X10 fleece slides over dry skin without sticking, making the suit easy to get in and out of regardless if it’s damp or bone dry. The chest entry features a pre-fed zipper that you never have to worry about attaching and detaching with cold fingers.
Furthermore, the chest panel includes drain holes, preventing unwanted cold water from filling the suit. The legs have a perforated side cut near the ankle to drain any water that may seep through. With thoughtful features like this, it’s apparent that no expense was spared in the design of the X10D suit.
Performance
It may be hard to believe, but the Manera X10D 4/3 may have the best combination of flexibility and warmth of any other hooded 4/3 on the market. Here’s why: the X10D fleece is notably warm, and the X10D jersey is highly flexible. I have paddled out in the X10D countless times in cold water temps hovering in the upper 40s F. More times than not, I find myself sweating and removing my hood, even while fighting the ice cream headache from duck diving.
The seams are designed in such a way that just about makes the wetsuit waterproof. Think about it: when water can’t enter the suit, and the fleece has high thermal retention, there’s little to no room to get cold. Theoretically, there is a temperature threshold where the X10D 4/3 will no longer be warm enough, but I have yet to reach it.
Value and Durability
With a price range of $470-$510, the Manera X10D model line is definitely in the upper echelon of wetsuits. That said, it is worth the hefty price tag. Being more of a niche brand, Manera drives their business with high requirement standards and loyalty. They only offer high-quality products through a network of trusted, specialized shops. In addition, Manera offers a generous two-year warranty on their wetsuits. The X10D certainly fits the bill. They believe the best way to create an eco-friendly product is to make one that lasts.
Manera x Surfline Shop have teamed up to deliver an epic beanie with every Manera order purchased on the Surfline Shop. If that doesn’t persuade you, read below.
When you’re surfing in bone-chilling waters such as Canada or Alaska, your gear is fundamental to your success. A wetsuit that floods, booties that shift, or hoods that are too tight or loose, can skew a surfer’s day entirely.
Pete Devries is a professional Canadian cold-water shredder who perceives hoods as essential as his surfboards and considers his 4/3 a summer wetsuit. Before heading out for another adventure in the middle of the Bering Sea (with a fresh 6 mil ready to go), Pete told us what’s in his wetsuits quiver. Spoiler: it’s all Manera.
To understand Pete’s commitment to Manera, you need some context. In 2020, Pete’s 20-year partnership with Hurley had come to an end. While some brands sat in shock, others seized the opportunity to show this Canadian how good a wetsuit can truly be.
“Manera was the first company that reached out,” he says. “I started looking at their stuff, they sent me a few samples, and I was blown away by the quality. Surfing with Team Manera is really great. It’s been fun working on different video projects with them, which is something I didn’t really get to do in the past with fairly with such a big international team.”
Before Manera, Pete would go through more than six wetsuits per year and a pair of booties every three weeks. Some wetsuits would start as flexible and be blown out from the seams after a few sessions, and others the quality just wasn’t up to par. A helpful reminder that finding a wetsuit brand that fits your needs is a challenge for everyone, even the pros.
So according to Pete, what is so great about Manera wetsuits? “The quality, the durability, and the flexibility.”
With Manera, Pete gets three wetsuits at the start of fall to gear up for his cold-water winter surfing. For Pete, it’s the kneepads that always go first, so he makes sure his quiver is stocked. Though these suits will last him around two or three seasons, he only uses the latest and greatest for his coldest surfs. The previous seasons suits are rotated in during summer or shoulder season.
Before the dead of winter happens and the 6 mil is broken out, Pete took us through his favorite Manera wetsuits and accessories for shoulder season.
“My go-to summer and shoulder season wetsuit when the water temp is around 51º or above. The 10XD is an essential wetsuit for the daily hardcore surfer who wants a high-performance suit that’s flexible and has good maneuverability. “I’m a guy who always wears a hood, so having one that is lighter when it’s not too cold is perfect. The 10XD provides top notch flexibility without the compromise of durability and longevity.”
“This one is currently in my quiver. The Alt has a bit more weight and thicknesses being a 5 mil. On the flexibility scale, this one is a bit stiffer, but it’s an all-around suit that I’ll use in the winter. The Alt is an environmentally friendly wetsuit made with alternative materials, so the neoprene has a different feel to the exterior, but the interior feels the same. For anyone who is more conscious of the environment or gets up for dawn patrol before work on the coldest days of winter, the Alt is for you.”
“I personally don’t use this one, I find it too warm. Say if you’re wearing the Alt 5/4/3 Hoodless, or any hoodless suit, you can throw this on for the extra warmth. This hood is full on meant for the coldest conditions, which means it doesn’t have much maneuverability in it.”
“I wear this one because it’s a lot lighter and brings me a lot more flexibility for my neck. The 10XD Hood is made with the same materials as the 10XD Wetsuit. The detached hood alleviates the compression I feel on my neck with hooded wetsuits. I’ve found that these hoods can help me sustain a longer surf session without being as stiff and sore after. Especially when I want to rip an air where your body is rotating or power through a turn where your head is torquing, this hood brings that extra rotation without the pullback from a hooded suit.”
“Boots are an interesting one for me. In recent years, I’ve found that the boots have been too flexible, and the neoprene gets too soft and gummy. I was blowing out a boot within one to three weeks. The Manera Round Toe Booties have a good mixture of feeling good while having solid soles that make them actually last. I’m very impressed with how these booties perform.
“I probably go through two pairs of Manera 7mil Booties in the winter as opposed to a pair of boots every month. I prefer very tight-fitting boots. I was worried about the fit because these boots don’t have a specific strap to tighten. So, if you’re looking for that tight fit, size down. I’m a size 10 shoe, but I wear a size 8 in boots.
“When trying them on, they will definitely feel tight. It takes some technique to finesse your foot in there. On your first surf with them, you’ll feel pressure on the top of your foot. But just know, after a couple of days, they will loosen up just enough. If you’re struggling to get the boots on, I put some warm water in them to soften the neoprene.”
BACÁN /baˈkan/ Adjective. One of the most popular words of Chilean slang. A very common expression for saying something or someone is cool, brilliant or awesome.
Amidst the pristine landscape of Chile, trekking through majestic forests and expanses of black sand, Pete Devries and Ian Fontaine found what they were looking for.
