Dynafit MTL4 Mods

The question in brief:
- Why even bother keeping the upper cuff? I'm not sure it's doing much of anything if I already have a velcro power strap.

In more detail:
Season 1 =
- Bought a pair of used MLT4 shells from a poster here. (Thanks again for the great deal!)
- They had already been modified with a much-needed instep buckle.
- Seller included a bunch of other mods & parts. I set them up so that they were stripped down for the ascent, then beefed up more for the descent.
Season 2 =
- Bought a pair of Dynafit TLT4 Evo boots, which with the rear spoiler and powerstrap temporarily removed are quite light for ascents, and then reasonably good for descents.
- With the MTL4 thus relegated to rando races, lower-angle tours, and outings that are more slog than ski, I set about trying to strip them down even more, yet still sort of skiable.
- Liners are low Intuition/Morrow from cheapsnowboards.com.
- Laces have been replaced with a buckle on the instep, Solly quickfit laces for the upper cuff, and velcro power strap just above the laces.
- Started to notice that even with the Solly laces attached loosely, they still interfere somewhat with the stride. But unhooked entirely, they flop around and cause . . . problems.
- So now I'm thinking, why not just remove the upper cuff entirely? It's so soft that it's barely contributing to the skiability, that is, once I already have a powerstrap tightening things up. Removing it entirely will enhance stride, reduce weight, and quicken transitions.

Remove the upper cuff completely?

I own a pair of TLT4's, and admittedly, they are soft, sometimes to soft, but I would think removing the upper cuff would make them even softer.

Also, you mentioned "quicken transitions"...did you mean edge to edge transitions?

Sorry, should have explained a bit more about this obscure (and short-lived) model:
- The MLT4 essentially combines the lower shell of the TLT4 with a climbing boot upper cuff.
- So the upper cuff is completely floppy plastic, i.e., makes the plastic tongue of the TLT4 seem stiff by comparison.
- I figured out a way to remove the upper cuff without damaging it.
- With the upper cuff removed, the weight for a PAIR of 27.0/27.5 boots, including liners (but not footbeds), replacing the original laces with an instep buckle and an upper velcro power strap is . . . 4 lb 5.6 oz!
- Seems stiff enough to ski down the Bretton Woods rando race course on Sunday . . . although I'll find out for sure on - Sunday!
- Oddly enough, even though the plastic tongue is just as floppy, folding that out of the way reduced the stiffness to essentially unskiable.
Re transitions, I meant skin>ski & ski>skin in rando races, where fumbling around for a couple minutes or so with buckles, laces, etc can add up (or so it seems at the time).

I have the same boots MLT & TLT Pro4's? I modified the instep of the MLT for a instep buckle and shorter laces with quick lace thingie; but had the same thoughts- just never got to it after getting F1 boots. The upper is rubber and not much use; but didn't want to drill the rivet/hinge. Do you use the original power strap? What do you hook the metal hook to? I had a thermo liner; but sold it and use the original liner- mostly for climbing and snow shoeing; but never did that this year- snow has been too good.

I used the Pro4's the other night and it seemed so stiff fo climbing- fiddled again with the spoiler and strap and wondering how different they will ski. The spoiler has too much forward lean- unless you get used to it and not sure if I need the strap either. Looking for a boot to match the TRAB FreeRando- for comfortable touring and bagging lines. The F1 (very modified) and TRAB Sint aero are better touring/ raceing; but narrow for fresh- great for the spring/summer Glaciers.

MLT4:
- I removed the upper cuff just by kind of peeling it off the shell rivet. No damage to the upper cuff, so I can put it back on if necessary.
- With more of the rivets exposed, I was then able just dremel them off. If I need to re-attach the upper cuff, I'll use some sort of screw rivet instead. (Given how floppy the upper cuff, I won't need anything very burly to keep it attached.)
- I drilled a small hole up high in rear of the shell, and that's where I attached a velcro power strap.

TLT Evo:
- I've felt that same way about the spoiler (too much forward lean), but I feel that I really need the extra rear support, or at least need something to attached a power strap too relatively high up.
- I feel they're the perfect match for the Sint Aero. I've been using my Matrix though w/ the FreeRando - currently with a flexon tongue, although might put the original back in for more stride.

The question in brief:
- Why even bother keeping the upper cuff?  I'm not sure it's doing much of anything if I already have a velcro power strap.

Maybe the problem is your Intuition liners. I recently tried on some low-cut Intuition liners for my MLT4s and didn't like them at all. They jab into my achilles tendon when I point my toe and they interfere with ankle flex when I flex forward. They're too stiff and the "wrap-around" design is lousy for ankle flexibility.

I need to replace my old, packed-out Scarpa Inverno liners. I decided to order another pair of Invernos instead of going with the Intuition liners. With Inverno liners, I have plenty of ankle flexibility with the upper lace somewhat loose. Tightening the lace is enough to give me a skiable boot. I don't need a power strap. Your mileage may vary.

I drilled a small hole up high in rear of the shell, and that's where I attached a velcro power strap.

I cut off the little extension on the back of the MLT4 shell. I found that it interfered with the ability to point my toe (for low angle touring).

I suspect that you're trying to get more downhill performance than an MLT4 can reasonably provide. For example, I would never use them in a rando race because I know I'd get smoked in the downhills. I can ski anything short of "extreme" terrain in them, but I can't ski it fast because of the lack of a rear spoiler.