A side-release buckle assembly includes a main housing, a button positioned through a side of the main housing, a metal coil spring biased between an interior wall of the main housing and the button, and a mating member. Movement of the button is directly transferred to the spring, and vice versa. The ratchet strap is moveable through the main housing in a first direction, and when the button is pressed, the ratchet strap is moveable through the buckle housing in a second direction opposite to the first direction.