Fixable! The first thing to check is proper binding adjustment for your boot.  Use our Boot Fit Check Tool to make sure the binding is fitted properly to your boot.  A properly adjusted binding will stay on your boot heel in most circumstances, even without the Heel Lock.  The Heel Lock is designed to prevent rear (heel up) boot pre-release when landing hard in a tele stance, like off of a jump, or in hard bumps.  It is not required to ski the binding, but we recommend you use it.  It also does not have to be touching the underside of the metal Heel Lever to function. It just has to be snapped into position below it. For older versions of the Heel Lock, you can increase the strength of the snap by bending the wire towards the middle of the binding. Bend it just enough to increase the snap (typically 1-2 mm or so), but not so much that the “hook” of the Heel Lock can’t snap over it.