Manera Meteor X10D 3/2mm 2016
Reviews / Mens Wetsuits
15,846
At A Glance
Manera launched onto the wetsuit scene with a bang in 2015, pioneering their proprietary 3D Design technology they created a line of suits with a superior fit that were designed with kitesurfing in mind. By looking at the way kitesurfers moved and the positions they put their bodies in most of the time they came up with suits that offered the perfect kitesurfing fit. The 3D Design technique is a method of taking a 3D shape of the body and then transferring that to a 2D piece of neoprene to be laser cut. Then, when the suit is stitched together, the suit takes the original 3D shape of the body. This offers a superior fit, and where wetsuits are concerned fit is everything.
The long sleeve shorty we have on test here uses the X10D material is made from three components. First S Foam neoprene is bonded to the Re-Flex outer skin, this is extremely stretchy but also offers a robust layer to protect the S-Foam. Then the X10D inner jersey is added to provide a smooth, soft material to sit against your skin. Again this material offers excellent manoeuvrability and extreme comfort.
The laser cut panels are then glued, and blind stitched and finally SD2 Tape is used to completely seal the inner seams and offer the best stretch and waterproofing available. The legs and wrists are then Fusion Cut which bonds the three layers of neoprene without the need for extra stitching. Sealing prints are used on the inside of the legs and wrists, and a Hanger Tolerance Print is added to the shoulders so the wetsuit can be hung up when wet without overstretching the material.
The shorty features 3mm neoprene on the body and legs with a 2mm thickness used on the arms; it’s a front zip design to improve the stretch in the suit.
On The Water
XD10 Neoprene from Manera feels amazing on your skin; it’s soft and supple, and you really don’t notice you are wearing this suit. The legs have a rubber seal on them that does a good job of stopping any flushing of water and the ankle and wrist seals work well too. XD10 is designed to offer excellent manoeuvrability rather than warmth, that being said, this is a shorty too, so don’t expect to wear this suit anywhere other than warm climates. It does offer enough warmth to keep the wind chill away and also provides excellent sun protection too.
Keep the suit well rinsed to maintain the flexibility and that fresh feeling of the XD10 material soft against your skin. Saltwater plays havoc with suits as the crystals dry up and stop the suit from stretching as it should. We’ve been wearing this suit for a season already and haven’t noticed any issues with the stitching or materials, so this should last you a good few seasons.
Overall
High-quality materials fused with a superior fit make this a great shorty to keep the warmth in and allow you the maximum amount of movement. XD10 is super stretchy and comfortable to wear, the seals are great, and the front zip makes it an excellent suit for kitesurfing.
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By Rou Chater
Rou has been kiting since the sports inception and has been working as an editor and tester for magazines since 2004. He started IKSURFMAG with his brother in 2006 and has tested hundreds of different kites and travelled all over the world to kitesurf. He's a walking encyclopedia of all things kite and is just as passionate about the sport today as he was when he first started!
