A turbulent boundary layer manipulated by outer-layer devices has been studied. Experiments have been conducted in the 0.70 by 0.50 m2 low speed wind tunnel of the ‘Modesto Panetti’ Aeronautical Laboratory of the Politecnico di Torino. Mean values and turbulent quantities measured in the natural and manipulated boundary layers are shown for comparison. The mechanisms to explain the observed skin friction and turbulence reduction are discussed. The manipulator wake effect, consisting in decoupling the wall-region from the boundary layer outer-region, is stressed in the present results.