A fastener is provided that may be readily threadingly engaged with and/or disengaged from a threaded shaft without the need to threadingly advance the fastener along substantially the entire length of the threaded shaft. In one exemplary embodiment, a quick release nut is provided that includes an upper body portion and a lower body portion that are rotatably connected to one another. Each of the upper body portion and the lower body portion include central apertures extending therethrough with the walls defining the central apertures of the upper and lower body portions being at least partially threaded.