A strap retainer comprising a flexible elongated body having two planar sides and two free ends adapted for closure on to each other. A locking pawl is integrally formed with one free end and comprises a post and a head section forming a free end. A receptacle for the locking pawl is integrally formed with the other free end. The receptacle has top and bottom surfaces that are parallel to the planar sides of the body. There is a cavity in the top surface of the receptacle, having an enlarged section and a narrow section extending through the free end of the receptacle. The enlarged section is longer than the head section of the locking pawl and the narrow section is narrower than the head section of the locking pawl. There is at least one flexible locking tooth in the enlarged section of the cavity that protrudes into the cavity. A shoulder element is arranged on each side of the cavity to define an insertion area in the top surface of the receptacle corresponding to the shape of the locking pawl. Inserting the locking pawl into the cavity through the insertion area depresses the locking tooth, and sliding the locking pawl toward the free end of the receptacle releases the locking tooth and locks the locking pawl in the receptacle.
