Alt Steamer - 5.4.3
- Flexibility 0%
- Warmth 0%
- Comfort 0%
Infos & Characteristics
ALT stands for « Alternative ». We have built a greener alternative to conventional wetsuits, with performance in mind. It features a 100% natural YULEX rubber.
Unlike finite resources like oil and limestone, natural rubber is a renewable resource. Directly tapped from FSC-certified hevea forests without cutting them down, it ensures a long-term supply stability as well as a drastically reduced environmental impact.
Both inside and outside jerseys as well as our inside fleece are recycled, and the wetsuit features all our other standard sustainable processes.
The performances of the ALT are close to a MAGMA’s. We believe the ALT represents a new generation of high-performance wetsuits that has a more reasonable impact on the planet.
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ALT stands for « Alternative ».
ProductTechnologies
DESIGNED IN 3D
When the industry standard is to develop 2D patterns and try to fit it on a 3D body, we decided to break new ground and take the opposite direction. We use computer design to model good-fitted wetsuits in 3D, then we employ an innovative software that converts it into a precise 2D pattern for the factory.
It creates a natural, second-skin fit that makes the MANERA wetsuits stand out.
- A GOOD FIT MEANS EVERYTHING -
Warmth: No water entry, no air pocket.
Durability: The neoprene is only stretched when moving.
Comfort: No overtight areas, comfortable armpits/crotch.
Style: Folds will never be fashionable.
Strategic structure
Some areas are very sensitive to friction, tensions and tearing. All MANERA wetsuits have been designed with a demanding brief including:
. Avoiding seams in tensions area, to maximize flexibility and strength.
. Making sure the seams are stretched vertically and not sideways.
. Removing seams from friction areas, which avoids rash and increases stretch capacity.
. Reinforcing strategic parts and panels right where it needs to be.
Sealing prints
Sealing prints make the ankles and wrists stiffer. It has a joint role that keeps the water away and maintains the arms and legs panels in place.
Back knee emboss
The back of the knees is an area that requires specific care. The Back Knee Emboss helps the neoprene to bend more naturally for greater comfort during flexion of the knees.
Water strainer
A wetsuit leg filled up with water is a very uncomfortable issue: The MANERA water strainer panel is here to prevent it. The leaky and perforated neoprene drains the water out of your leg instantly to let you continue the session in the best possible conditions.
MANERA wetsuits use a new process to bring more durability, waterproofness and flexibility.
SD2 tape 2.0
The neoprene layers are glued together and then "blind-stitched" (the needle does not go through the neoprene layer completely). Then the SD² tape is welded to the seam by an air heater machine. This innovative process brings more durability, waterproofness and flexibility to our wetsuits.
Triplex ALT
The Triplex ALT is designed for warmth.
Re-flex skin / Protection
Air-foam / Insulation
Magma Recycled / Warmth & sustainability
These three materials brought together create a warm, durable and comfortable wetsuit.
Yulex Pure®
Yulex Pure® is a natural plant-based rubber that provides a cleaner alternative to traditional petroleum or limestone-based neoprene.
. Renewable
Unlike finite resources like oil and limestone, natural rubber is a renewable resource.
Directly tapped from Hevea trees without cutting them down, it ensures a long-term supply stability as well as a drastically reduced environmental impact.
. Scoreboard for production of 1 kg synthetic vs. 1 kg of natural rubber
/ Synthetic Rubber = ~3,0000 kg CO2e emitted
/ Natural Rubber = 0 kg CO2e emitted
/ Mother Nature makes the best polymers!
*Sources : Yulex / Science magazine (Published 31 August 2018, Science 361, 851 (2018) DOI: 10.1126/science.aar6859) / The rubber manufacturers association
. Reduced carbon footprint
Yulex claims that using their natural rubber rather than traditional neoprene reduces the carbon footprint of our wetsuits by 80%.
Recycled Magma
Warmth
. Thermal
The new MAGMA Recycled is knitted with 45% recycled polyester. Its fleece insulates and keeps you warm even during the worst winter days.
MAGMA+ is found on all parts of MAGMA wetsuits, except the arms and legs which require greater flexibility.
Recycled Jersey
Inside: Assembled with 100% recycled nylon, the inside jersey is a key part of the wetsuit, being in direct contact with the skin. Our Jersey fabric not only provides maximum stretch and lightness, but also a smooth, silky feeling on the skin.
Outside: Assembled with 83% recycled nylon, the outside jersey is made to provide the ultimate flex while resisting UV rays, salt, tearing and frictions.
Air-foam
We have chosen to use a very light neoprene foam as we believe having less weight means improved comfort & endurance. It also features the best flex & insulation of the market, with the quilted touch you love in a Manera suit.
Air-foam is limestone based.
Re-flex skin
Born from the latest technologies of stretch fabrics, the RE-FLEX SKIN is extremely flexible, durable and UV proof. It enhances your movements and makes them more explosive.
Fusion cut
The different neoprene layers are fused on the tips of arms and legs to make it thinner and more aesthetic. It protects the inside neoprene foam (AIR FOAM) by covering it.
Phantom straps
If the water strainer panel is still not enough for you, the MANERA ankle straps are designed to be very thin so water sprays can’t take them off. They are also stiff enough to block the water from coming in, and light for a better comfort.
Related products
Sustainability
Yulex Pure®
Yulex Pure® is a natural plant-based rubber that provides a cleaner alternative to traditional petroleum or limestone-based neoprene.
The Yulex® company partnered with FSC certified Hevea tree plantations to harvest crude rubber, then uses its unique process to transform it into a 100% pure solid natural rubber.
. Renewable
Unlike finite resources like oil and limestone, natural rubber is a renewable resource.
Directly tapped from Hevea trees without cutting them down, it ensures a long-term supply stability as well as a drastically reduced environmental impact.
. Reduced water consumption
A ton of Yulex requires 25,000L of water to be produced, while limestone-based neoprene necessitates more than 10 times that amount. Moreover, Yulex recycles wastewater by re-using it during the production process.
. Reduced energy consumption
One ton of Yulex requires 1,150kwh to be produced when limestone-based neoprene demands more than 29 times that amount.
. Reduced carbon footprint
Yulex claims that using their natural rubber rather than traditional neoprene reduces the carbon footprint of our wetsuits by 80%.
Why don’t we build all our wetsuits with Yulex Pure® yet?
Our Yulex Pure® wetsuits are around 30% more expensive than our highest priced wetsuits.
We do understand that not everybody can afford it. We are here to help passionate people make the most of their time in the water, and not to only target a higher social class.
While we and other brands will launch more and more natural rubber wetsuit models, the price of raw material should become more and more affordable. Then, bit by bit, we will be able to switch all our neoprene goods to Yulex Pure®, without them breaking the bank.
*all data is courtesy of Yulex®.
Recycled neoprene
Before being cut into several slices of a specific thickness, the neoprene is cooked and then shaped into a clean, rectangular slab.
That process involves material waste, which SHEICO recycles and re-uses into finished products, then avoiding industrial wastes that ends up in landfills.
Unique supplier
We have a single, trustworthy supplier with whom we have been closely working since 2012.
SHEICO is a Taiwanese company that produces our goods in Cambodia, and they also produce most of the world’s premium wetsuits. Manufacturing around 45 million wetsuits a year, they can have a huge impact on the global wetsuit market’s CO² emissions.
Most of the following green technologies have been discovered and implemented by SHEICO themselves. As their customer, we are choosing to use them.
SHEICO claims that a wetsuit with all the greener technologies listed below emits 24% less CO² than a standard wetsuit. If all SHEICO customers chose to implement all these just like we do, then the whole industry would save 12,1 million kg of CO² emission every year.
We did not create these. We just chose to use them.
Recycled jerseys
MAGMA
This model features a 83% recycled nylon outside jersey and a 100% recycled nylon inside jersey.
It helps reduce waste as well as limit the production of new raw material.
ALT
This model features a 83% recycled nylon outside jersey, a 100% recycled nylon inside jersey, and a 45% recycled fleece.
It helps reduce waste as well as limit the production of new raw material.
Limestone
All our neoprene goods are derived from limestone rather than petrochemicals.
However, if you think that limestone is much better than oil, think twice. Limestone is a limited, nonrenewable mineral that must be extracted from the earth. Creating neoprene from it is an energy-intensive process and is thus not so superior in terms of environmental impact than petroleum.
We still chose to use limestone to reduce our dependency on oil and its derived chemicals. Besides, a limestone spill is much easier to clean up than an oil spill, meaning less danger to the local environment.
If you are looking for a wetsuit with a reduced environmental impact, we have what you need: The ALT. This new model is made from Yulex Pure® natural rubber which claims to reduce the overall carbon footprint of a wetsuit by 80%.
Why don’t we manufacture all our wetsuits with Yulex Pure®?
Our Yulex Pure® wetsuits are around 30% more expensive than our highest priced wetsuits.
We do understand that not everybody can afford it. We are here to help passionate people make the most of their time in the water, and not to only target a higher social class.
While we and other brands will launch more and more natural rubber wetsuit models, the price of raw material should become more and more affordable. Then, bit by bit, we will be able to switch all our neoprene goods to Yulex Pure®, without our customers breaking the bank.
Recycled carbon black
Carbon black is mostly used as a colorant and reinforcing ingredient in the rubber tires industry. It also happens to be a key ingredient in the manufacturing of neoprene.
It also happens to be a key ingredient in the manufacturing of neoprene.
At SHEICO, carbon black is sourced from pyrolyzed used tires, which reduces energy consumption and saves around 200 g of CO² emissions per wetsuit.
Aqua glue
The glue that binds the jersey fabrics to the internal neoprene foam is now water-based instead of solvent-based.
This removes volatile organic compounds (VOCs), thus providing a healthier working environment for employees and a cleaner wetsuit against your skin.
Dope Dyed Yarn
Dyeing the fabric consumes a lot of water, so the threads that make up our fabrics are dyed before being woven. This considerably reduces water usage while reducing energy consumption and water pollution.
For other colors, SHEICO has invested in a new generation of dyeing machines which consume 60% less water.
*Only on our black models.
Solar energy
The energy that our suppliers use is a crucial part of a brand’s carbon emissions. Having an eco-design is useless if your product is made using non-renewable energy.
Therefore, SHEICO factories are equipped with solar panels to limit the use of fossil fuels, generating around 6,038,486kWh per year.
Compostable/biodegradable packaging
We must protect our wetsuits from any contact with humidity or the sun so that they preserve their qualities when they arrive in the shop. Shipping wetsuits without a proper protection could cause irreparable damages to the neoprene.
Consequently, we have been working to find the best alternative to classic plastic polybags:
- A recyclable "pizza box" made of 70% recycled cardboard.
- A compostable/recyclable bioplastic bag (PLA).
- Compostable/recyclable bioplastic (PLA) anti-crease tubes.
More info on our partner’s website: minima.com