diff --git a/pkg/sentry/pgalloc/save_restore.go b/pkg/sentry/pgalloc/save_restore.go
index e65e8419e..6e56e58fa 100644
--- a/pkg/sentry/pgalloc/save_restore.go
+++ b/pkg/sentry/pgalloc/save_restore.go
@@ -30,6 +30,7 @@ import (
 	"gvisor.dev/gvisor/pkg/sentry/usage"
 	"gvisor.dev/gvisor/pkg/state"
 	"gvisor.dev/gvisor/pkg/state/statefile"
+	"gvisor.dev/gvisor/pkg/state/wire"
 	"gvisor.dev/gvisor/pkg/sync"
 )
 
@@ -171,6 +172,7 @@ func (f *MemoryFile) SaveTo(ctx context.Context, w io.Writer, pw io.Writer, opts
 	log.Debugf("MemoryFile.SaveTo: saved metadata in %s", time.Since(timeMetadataStart))
 
 	// Dump out committed pages.
+	ww := wire.Writer{Writer: w}
 	timePagesStart := time.Now()
 	savedBytes := uint64(0)
 	for maseg := f.memAcct.FirstSegment(); maseg.Ok(); maseg = maseg.NextSegment() {
@@ -178,7 +180,7 @@ func (f *MemoryFile) SaveTo(ctx context.Context, w io.Writer, pw io.Writer, opts
 			continue
 		}
 		// Write a header to distinguish from objects.
-		if err := state.WriteHeader(w, uint64(maseg.Range().Length()), false); err != nil {
+		if err := state.WriteHeader(&ww, uint64(maseg.Range().Length()), false); err != nil {
 			return err
 		}
 		// Write out data.
@@ -304,6 +306,7 @@ func (f *MemoryFile) LoadFrom(ctx context.Context, r io.Reader, pr *statefile.As
 	defer madviseWG.Wait()
 
 	// Load committed pages.
+	wr := wire.Reader{Reader: r}
 	timePagesStart := time.Now()
 	loadedBytes := uint64(0)
 	for maseg := f.memAcct.FirstSegment(); maseg.Ok(); maseg = maseg.NextSegment() {
@@ -311,7 +314,7 @@ func (f *MemoryFile) LoadFrom(ctx context.Context, r io.Reader, pr *statefile.As
 			continue
 		}
 		// Verify header.
-		length, object, err := state.ReadHeader(r)
+		length, object, err := state.ReadHeader(&wr)
 		if err != nil {
 			return err
 		}
diff --git a/pkg/state/decode.go b/pkg/state/decode.go
index 79beeb016..fd3787684 100644
--- a/pkg/state/decode.go
+++ b/pkg/state/decode.go
@@ -18,7 +18,6 @@ import (
 	"bytes"
 	"context"
 	"fmt"
-	"io"
 	"math"
 	"reflect"
 
@@ -143,7 +142,7 @@ type decodeState struct {
 	ctx context.Context
 
 	// r is the input stream.
-	r io.Reader
+	r wire.Reader
 
 	// types is the type database.
 	types typeDecodeDatabase
@@ -591,7 +590,7 @@ func (ds *decodeState) Load(obj reflect.Value) {
 	ds.pending.PushBack(rootOds)
 
 	// Read the number of objects.
-	numObjects, object, err := ReadHeader(ds.r)
+	numObjects, object, err := ReadHeader(&ds.r)
 	if err != nil {
 		Failf("header error: %w", err)
 	}
@@ -613,7 +612,7 @@ func (ds *decodeState) Load(obj reflect.Value) {
 		// decoding loop in state/pretty/pretty.printer.printStream().
 		for i := uint64(0); i < numObjects; {
 			// Unmarshal either a type object or object ID.
-			encoded = wire.Load(ds.r)
+			encoded = wire.Load(&ds.r)
 			switch we := encoded.(type) {
 			case *wire.Type:
 				ds.types.Register(we)
@@ -624,7 +623,7 @@ func (ds *decodeState) Load(obj reflect.Value) {
 				id = objectID(we)
 				i++
 				// Unmarshal and resolve the actual object.
-				encoded = wire.Load(ds.r)
+				encoded = wire.Load(&ds.r)
 				ods = ds.lookup(id)
 				if ods != nil {
 					// Decode the object.
@@ -718,7 +717,7 @@ func (ds *decodeState) Load(obj reflect.Value) {
 // Each object written to the statefile is prefixed with a header. See
 // WriteHeader for more information; these functions are exported to allow
 // non-state writes to the file to play nice with debugging tools.
-func ReadHeader(r io.Reader) (length uint64, object bool, err error) {
+func ReadHeader(r *wire.Reader) (length uint64, object bool, err error) {
 	// Read the header.
 	err = safely(func() {
 		length = wire.LoadUint(r)
diff --git a/pkg/state/encode.go b/pkg/state/encode.go
index ee1ce3242..861be309f 100644
--- a/pkg/state/encode.go
+++ b/pkg/state/encode.go
@@ -16,7 +16,6 @@ package state
 
 import (
 	"context"
-	"io"
 	"reflect"
 	"sort"
 
@@ -62,7 +61,7 @@ type encodeState struct {
 	ctx context.Context
 
 	// w is the output stream.
-	w io.Writer
+	w wire.Writer
 
 	// types is the type database.
 	types typeEncodeDatabase
@@ -781,7 +780,7 @@ func (es *encodeState) Save(obj reflect.Value) {
 	}
 
 	// Write the header with the number of objects.
-	if err := WriteHeader(es.w, uint64(len(es.pending)), true); err != nil {
+	if err := WriteHeader(&es.w, uint64(len(es.pending)), true); err != nil {
 		Failf("error writing header: %w", err)
 	}
 
@@ -791,7 +790,7 @@ func (es *encodeState) Save(obj reflect.Value) {
 	if err := safely(func() {
 		for _, wt := range es.pendingTypes {
 			// Encode the type.
-			wire.Save(es.w, &wt)
+			wire.Save(&es.w, &wt)
 		}
 		// Emit objects in ID order.
 		ids := make([]objectID, 0, len(es.pending))
@@ -803,10 +802,10 @@ func (es *encodeState) Save(obj reflect.Value) {
 		})
 		for _, id := range ids {
 			// Encode the id.
-			wire.Save(es.w, wire.Uint(id))
+			wire.Save(&es.w, wire.Uint(id))
 			// Marshal the object.
 			oes := es.pending[id]
-			wire.Save(es.w, oes.encoded)
+			wire.Save(&es.w, oes.encoded)
 		}
 	}); err != nil {
 		// Include the object and the error.
@@ -825,7 +824,7 @@ const objectFlag uint64 = 1 << 63
 // order to generate statefiles that play nicely with debugging tools, raw
 // writes should be prefixed with a header with object set to false and the
 // appropriate length. This will allow tools to skip these regions.
-func WriteHeader(w io.Writer, length uint64, object bool) error {
+func WriteHeader(w *wire.Writer, length uint64, object bool) error {
 	// Sanity check the length.
 	if length&objectFlag != 0 {
 		Failf("impossibly huge length: %d", length)
diff --git a/pkg/state/pretty/pretty.go b/pkg/state/pretty/pretty.go
index 01ffe6cb4..be4ec514b 100644
--- a/pkg/state/pretty/pretty.go
+++ b/pkg/state/pretty/pretty.go
@@ -196,6 +196,8 @@ func (p *printer) format(graph uint64, depth int, encoded wire.Object) (string,
 
 // printStream is the basic print implementation.
 func (p *printer) printStream(w io.Writer, r io.Reader) (err error) {
+	wr := wire.Reader{Reader: r}
+
 	// current graph ID.
 	var graph uint64
 
@@ -218,7 +220,7 @@ func (p *printer) printStream(w io.Writer, r io.Reader) (err error) {
 
 	for {
 		// Find the first object to begin generation.
-		length, object, err := state.ReadHeader(r)
+		length, object, err := state.ReadHeader(&wr)
 		if err == io.EOF {
 			// Nothing else to do.
 			break
@@ -252,7 +254,7 @@ func (p *printer) printStream(w io.Writer, r io.Reader) (err error) {
 		)
 		for i := uint64(0); i < length; {
 			// Unmarshal either a type object or object ID.
-			encoded := wire.Load(r)
+			encoded := wire.Load(&wr)
 			switch we := encoded.(type) {
 			case *wire.Type:
 				str, _ := p.format(graph, 0, encoded)
@@ -270,7 +272,7 @@ func (p *printer) printStream(w io.Writer, r io.Reader) (err error) {
 				// Unmarshal the actual object.
 				objects = append(objects, objectAndID{
 					id:  uint64(we),
-					obj: wire.Load(r),
+					obj: wire.Load(&wr),
 				})
 				i++
 			default:
diff --git a/pkg/state/state.go b/pkg/state/state.go
index 135192286..6251ce275 100644
--- a/pkg/state/state.go
+++ b/pkg/state/state.go
@@ -92,7 +92,7 @@ func Save(ctx context.Context, w io.Writer, rootPtr any) (Stats, error) {
 	// Create the encoding state.
 	es := encodeState{
 		ctx:            ctx,
-		w:              w,
+		w:              wire.Writer{Writer: w},
 		types:          makeTypeEncodeDatabase(),
 		zeroValues:     make(map[reflect.Type]*objectEncodeState),
 		pending:        make(map[objectID]*objectEncodeState),
@@ -111,7 +111,7 @@ func Load(ctx context.Context, r io.Reader, rootPtr any) (Stats, error) {
 	// Create the decoding state.
 	ds := decodeState{
 		ctx:      ctx,
-		r:        r,
+		r:        wire.Reader{Reader: r},
 		types:    makeTypeDecodeDatabase(),
 		deferred: make(map[objectID]wire.Object),
 	}
diff --git a/pkg/state/wire/BUILD b/pkg/state/wire/BUILD
index b94f31ba1..2d522242e 100644
--- a/pkg/state/wire/BUILD
+++ b/pkg/state/wire/BUILD
@@ -13,6 +13,5 @@ go_library(
     visibility = ["//:sandbox"],
     deps = [
         "//pkg/gohacks",
-        "//pkg/sync",
     ],
 )
diff --git a/pkg/state/wire/wire.go b/pkg/state/wire/wire.go
index db2547ae4..657f3dbb5 100644
--- a/pkg/state/wire/wire.go
+++ b/pkg/state/wire/wire.go
@@ -33,17 +33,48 @@ import (
 	"math"
 
 	"gvisor.dev/gvisor/pkg/gohacks"
-	"gvisor.dev/gvisor/pkg/sync"
 )
 
-var oneByteArrayPool = sync.Pool{
-	New: func() any { return &[1]byte{} },
+// Reader bundles an io.Reader with a buffer used to implement readByte
+// efficiently.
+type Reader struct {
+	io.Reader
+
+	buf [1]byte
+}
+
+// readByte reads a single byte from r.Reader without allocation. It panics on
+// error.
+func (r *Reader) readByte() byte {
+	n, err := r.Read(r.buf[:])
+	if n != 1 {
+		panic(err)
+	}
+	return r.buf[0]
+}
+
+// Writer bundles an io.Writer with a buffer used to implement writeByte
+// efficiently.
+type Writer struct {
+	io.Writer
+
+	buf [1]byte
+}
+
+// writeByte writes a single byte to w.Writer without allocation. It panics on
+// error.
+func (w *Writer) writeByte(b byte) {
+	w.buf[0] = b
+	n, err := w.Write(w.buf[:])
+	if n != 1 {
+		panic(err)
+	}
 }
 
 // readFull is a utility. The equivalent is not needed for Write, but the API
 // contract dictates that it must always complete all bytes given or return an
 // error.
-func readFull(r io.Reader, p []byte) {
+func readFull(r *Reader, p []byte) {
 	for done := 0; done < len(p); {
 		n, err := r.Read(p[done:])
 		done += n
@@ -58,25 +89,25 @@ type Object interface {
 	// save saves the given object.
 	//
 	// Panic is used for error control flow.
-	save(io.Writer)
+	save(*Writer)
 
 	// load loads a new object of the given type.
 	//
 	// Panic is used for error control flow.
-	load(io.Reader) Object
+	load(*Reader) Object
 }
 
 // Bool is a boolean.
 type Bool bool
 
 // loadBool loads an object of type Bool.
-func loadBool(r io.Reader) Bool {
+func loadBool(r *Reader) Bool {
 	b := loadUint(r)
 	return Bool(b == 1)
 }
 
 // save implements Object.save.
-func (b Bool) save(w io.Writer) {
+func (b Bool) save(w *Writer) {
 	var v Uint
 	if b {
 		v = 1
@@ -87,7 +118,7 @@ func (b Bool) save(w io.Writer) {
 }
 
 // load implements Object.load.
-func (Bool) load(r io.Reader) Object { return loadBool(r) }
+func (Bool) load(r *Reader) Object { return loadBool(r) }
 
 // Int is a signed integer.
 //
@@ -95,7 +126,7 @@ func (Bool) load(r io.Reader) Object { return loadBool(r) }
 type Int int64
 
 // loadInt loads an object of type Int.
-func loadInt(r io.Reader) Int {
+func loadInt(r *Reader) Int {
 	u := loadUint(r)
 	x := Int(u >> 1)
 	if u&1 != 0 {
@@ -105,7 +136,7 @@ func loadInt(r io.Reader) Int {
 }
 
 // save implements Object.save.
-func (i Int) save(w io.Writer) {
+func (i Int) save(w *Writer) {
 	u := Uint(i) << 1
 	if i < 0 {
 		u = ^u
@@ -114,29 +145,19 @@ func (i Int) save(w io.Writer) {
 }
 
 // load implements Object.load.
-func (Int) load(r io.Reader) Object { return loadInt(r) }
+func (Int) load(r *Reader) Object { return loadInt(r) }
 
 // Uint is an unsigned integer.
 type Uint uint64
 
-func readByte(r io.Reader) byte {
-	p := oneByteArrayPool.Get().(*[1]byte)
-	defer oneByteArrayPool.Put(p)
-	n, err := r.Read(p[:])
-	if n != 1 {
-		panic(err)
-	}
-	return p[0]
-}
-
 // loadUint loads an object of type Uint.
-func loadUint(r io.Reader) Uint {
+func loadUint(r *Reader) Uint {
 	var (
 		u Uint
 		s uint
 	)
 	for i := 0; i <= 9; i++ {
-		b := readByte(r)
+		b := r.readByte()
 		if b < 0x80 {
 			if i == 9 && b > 1 {
 				panic("overflow")
@@ -150,76 +171,66 @@ func loadUint(r io.Reader) Uint {
 	panic("unreachable")
 }
 
-func writeByte(w io.Writer, b byte) {
-	p := oneByteArrayPool.Get().(*[1]byte)
-	defer oneByteArrayPool.Put(p)
-	p[0] = b
-	n, err := w.Write(p[:])
-	if n != 1 {
-		panic(err)
-	}
-}
-
 // save implements Object.save.
-func (u Uint) save(w io.Writer) {
+func (u Uint) save(w *Writer) {
 	for u >= 0x80 {
-		writeByte(w, byte(u)|0x80)
+		w.writeByte(byte(u) | 0x80)
 		u >>= 7
 	}
-	writeByte(w, byte(u))
+	w.writeByte(byte(u))
 }
 
 // load implements Object.load.
-func (Uint) load(r io.Reader) Object { return loadUint(r) }
+func (Uint) load(r *Reader) Object { return loadUint(r) }
 
 // Float32 is a 32-bit floating point number.
 type Float32 float32
 
 // loadFloat32 loads an object of type Float32.
-func loadFloat32(r io.Reader) Float32 {
+func loadFloat32(r *Reader) Float32 {
 	n := loadUint(r)
 	return Float32(math.Float32frombits(uint32(n)))
 }
 
 // save implements Object.save.
-func (f Float32) save(w io.Writer) {
+func (f Float32) save(w *Writer) {
 	n := Uint(math.Float32bits(float32(f)))
 	n.save(w)
 }
 
 // load implements Object.load.
-func (Float32) load(r io.Reader) Object { return loadFloat32(r) }
+func (Float32) load(r *Reader) Object { return loadFloat32(r) }
 
 // Float64 is a 64-bit floating point number.
 type Float64 float64
 
 // loadFloat64 loads an object of type Float64.
-func loadFloat64(r io.Reader) Float64 {
+func loadFloat64(r *Reader) Float64 {
 	n := loadUint(r)
 	return Float64(math.Float64frombits(uint64(n)))
 }
 
 // save implements Object.save.
-func (f Float64) save(w io.Writer) {
+func (f Float64) save(w *Writer) {
 	n := Uint(math.Float64bits(float64(f)))
 	n.save(w)
 }
 
 // load implements Object.load.
-func (Float64) load(r io.Reader) Object { return loadFloat64(r) }
+func (Float64) load(r *Reader) Object { return loadFloat64(r) }
 
 // Complex64 is a 64-bit complex number.
 type Complex64 complex128
 
 // loadComplex64 loads an object of type Complex64.
-func loadComplex64(r io.Reader) Complex64 {
+func loadComplex64(r *Reader) Complex64 {
 	re := loadFloat32(r)
 	im := loadFloat32(r)
 	return Complex64(complex(float32(re), float32(im)))
 }
 
 // save implements Object.save.
-func (c *Complex64) save(w io.Writer) {
+func (c *Complex64) save(w *Writer) {
 	re := Float32(real(*c))
 	im := Float32(imag(*c))
 	re.save(w)
@@ -227,7 +238,7 @@ func (c *Complex64) save(w io.Writer) {
 }
 
 // load implements Object.load.
-func (*Complex64) load(r io.Reader) Object {
+func (*Complex64) load(r *Reader) Object {
 	c := loadComplex64(r)
 	return &c
 }
@@ -236,14 +247,14 @@ func (*Complex64) load(r io.Reader) Object {
 type Complex128 complex128
 
 // loadComplex128 loads an object of type Complex128.
-func loadComplex128(r io.Reader) Complex128 {
+func loadComplex128(r *Reader) Complex128 {
 	re := loadFloat64(r)
 	im := loadFloat64(r)
 	return Complex128(complex(float64(re), float64(im)))
 }
 
 // save implements Object.save.
-func (c *Complex128) save(w io.Writer) {
+func (c *Complex128) save(w *Writer) {
 	re := Float64(real(*c))
 	im := Float64(imag(*c))
 	re.save(w)
@@ -251,7 +262,7 @@ func (c *Complex128) save(w io.Writer) {
 }
 
 // load implements Object.load.
-func (*Complex128) load(r io.Reader) Object {
+func (*Complex128) load(r *Reader) Object {
 	c := loadComplex128(r)
 	return &c
 }
@@ -260,7 +271,7 @@ func (*Complex128) load(r io.Reader) Object {
 type String string
 
 // loadString loads an object of type String.
-func loadString(r io.Reader) String {
+func loadString(r *Reader) String {
 	l := loadUint(r)
 	p := make([]byte, l)
 	readFull(r, p)
@@ -268,7 +279,7 @@ func loadString(r io.Reader) String {
 }
 
 // save implements Object.save.
-func (s *String) save(w io.Writer) {
+func (s *String) save(w *Writer) {
 	l := Uint(len(*s))
 	l.save(w)
 	p := gohacks.ImmutableBytesFromString(string(*s))
@@ -279,7 +290,7 @@ func (s *String) save(w io.Writer) {
 }
 
 // load implements Object.load.
-func (*String) load(r io.Reader) Object {
+func (*String) load(r *Reader) Object {
 	s := loadString(r)
 	return &s
 }
@@ -315,7 +326,7 @@ type Ref struct {
 }
 
 // loadRef loads an object of type Ref (abstract).
-func loadRef(r io.Reader) Ref {
+func loadRef(r *Reader) Ref {
 	ref := Ref{
 		Root: loadUint(r),
 	}
@@ -343,7 +354,7 @@ func loadRef(r io.Reader) Ref {
 }
 
 // save implements Object.save.
-func (r *Ref) save(w io.Writer) {
+func (r *Ref) save(w *Writer) {
 	r.Root.save(w)
 	l := Uint(len(r.Dots))
 	l.save(w)
@@ -372,7 +383,7 @@ func (r *Ref) save(w io.Writer) {
 }
 
 // load implements Object.load.
-func (*Ref) load(r io.Reader) Object {
+func (*Ref) load(r *Reader) Object {
 	ref := loadRef(r)
 	return &ref
 }
@@ -381,15 +392,15 @@ func (*Ref) load(r io.Reader) Object {
 type Nil struct{}
 
 // loadNil loads an object of type Nil.
-func loadNil(r io.Reader) Nil {
+func loadNil(r *Reader) Nil {
 	return Nil{}
 }
 
 // save implements Object.save.
-func (Nil) save(w io.Writer) {}
+func (Nil) save(w *Writer) {}
 
 // load implements Object.load.
-func (Nil) load(r io.Reader) Object { return loadNil(r) }
+func (Nil) load(r *Reader) Object { return loadNil(r) }
 
 // Slice is a slice value.
 type Slice struct {
@@ -399,7 +410,7 @@ type Slice struct {
 }
 
 // loadSlice loads an object of type Slice.
-func loadSlice(r io.Reader) Slice {
+func loadSlice(r *Reader) Slice {
 	return Slice{
 		Length:   loadUint(r),
 		Capacity: loadUint(r),
@@ -408,14 +419,14 @@ func loadSlice(r io.Reader) Slice {
 }
 
 // save implements Object.save.
-func (s *Slice) save(w io.Writer) {
+func (s *Slice) save(w *Writer) {
 	s.Length.save(w)
 	s.Capacity.save(w)
 	s.Ref.save(w)
 }
 
 // load implements Object.load.
-func (*Slice) load(r io.Reader) Object {
+func (*Slice) load(r *Reader) Object {
 	s := loadSlice(r)
 	return &s
 }
@@ -426,7 +437,7 @@ type Array struct {
 }
 
 // loadArray loads an object of type Array.
-func loadArray(r io.Reader) Array {
+func loadArray(r *Reader) Array {
 	l := loadUint(r)
 	if l == 0 {
 		// Note that there isn't a single object available to encode
@@ -448,7 +459,7 @@ func loadArray(r io.Reader) Array {
 }
 
 // save implements Object.save.
-func (a *Array) save(w io.Writer) {
+func (a *Array) save(w *Writer) {
 	l := Uint(len(a.Contents))
 	l.save(w)
 	if l == 0 {
@@ -463,7 +474,7 @@ func (a *Array) save(w io.Writer) {
 }
 
 // load implements Object.load.
-func (*Array) load(r io.Reader) Object {
+func (*Array) load(r *Reader) Object {
 	a := loadArray(r)
 	return &a
 }
@@ -475,7 +486,7 @@ type Map struct {
 }
 
 // loadMap loads an object of type Map.
-func loadMap(r io.Reader) Map {
+func loadMap(r *Reader) Map {
 	l := loadUint(r)
 	if l == 0 {
 		// See LoadArray.
@@ -499,7 +510,7 @@ func loadMap(r io.Reader) Map {
 }
 
 // save implements Object.save.
-func (m *Map) save(w io.Writer) {
+func (m *Map) save(w *Writer) {
 	l := Uint(len(m.Keys))
 	if int(l) != len(m.Values) {
 		panic(fmt.Sprintf("mismatched keys (%d) Aand values (%d)", len(m.Keys), len(m.Values)))
@@ -519,7 +530,7 @@ func (m *Map) save(w io.Writer) {
 }
 
 // load implements Object.load.
-func (*Map) load(r io.Reader) Object {
+func (*Map) load(r *Reader) Object {
 	m := loadMap(r)
 	return &m
 }
@@ -584,7 +595,7 @@ const (
 )
 
 // loadTypeSpec loads TypeSpec values.
-func loadTypeSpec(r io.Reader) TypeSpec {
+func loadTypeSpec(r *Reader) TypeSpec {
 	switch hdr := loadUint(r); hdr {
 	case typeSpecTypeID:
 		return TypeID(loadUint(r))
@@ -615,7 +626,7 @@ func loadTypeSpec(r io.Reader) TypeSpec {
 }
 
 // saveTypeSpec saves TypeSpec values.
-func saveTypeSpec(w io.Writer, t TypeSpec) {
+func saveTypeSpec(w *Writer, t TypeSpec) {
 	switch x := t.(type) {
 	case TypeID:
 		typeSpecTypeID.save(w)
@@ -649,7 +660,7 @@ type Interface struct {
 }
 
 // loadInterface loads an object of type Interface.
-func loadInterface(r io.Reader) Interface {
+func loadInterface(r *Reader) Interface {
 	return Interface{
 		Type:  loadTypeSpec(r),
 		Value: Load(r),
@@ -657,13 +668,13 @@ func loadInterface(r io.Reader) Interface {
 }
 
 // save implements Object.save.
-func (i *Interface) save(w io.Writer) {
+func (i *Interface) save(w *Writer) {
 	saveTypeSpec(w, i.Type)
 	Save(w, i.Value)
 }
 
 // load implements Object.load.
-func (*Interface) load(r io.Reader) Object {
+func (*Interface) load(r *Reader) Object {
 	i := loadInterface(r)
 	return &i
 }
@@ -675,7 +686,7 @@ type Type struct {
 }
 
 // loadType loads an object of type Type.
-func loadType(r io.Reader) Type {
+func loadType(r *Reader) Type {
 	name := string(loadString(r))
 	l := loadUint(r)
 	fields := make([]string, l)
@@ -689,7 +700,7 @@ func loadType(r io.Reader) Type {
 }
 
 // save implements Object.save.
-func (t *Type) save(w io.Writer) {
+func (t *Type) save(w *Writer) {
 	s := String(t.Name)
 	s.save(w)
 	l := Uint(len(t.Fields))
@@ -701,7 +712,7 @@ func (t *Type) save(w io.Writer) {
 }
 
 // load implements Object.load.
-func (*Type) load(r io.Reader) Object {
+func (*Type) load(r *Reader) Object {
 	t := loadType(r)
 	return &t
 }
@@ -710,7 +721,7 @@ func (*Type) load(r io.Reader) Object {
 type multipleObjects []Object
 
 // loadMultipleObjects loads a series of objects.
-func loadMultipleObjects(r io.Reader) multipleObjects {
+func loadMultipleObjects(r *Reader) multipleObjects {
 	l := loadUint(r)
 	m := make(multipleObjects, l)
 	for i := 0; i < int(l); i++ {
@@ -720,7 +731,7 @@ func loadMultipleObjects(r io.Reader) multipleObjects {
 }
 
 // save implements Object.save.
-func (m *multipleObjects) save(w io.Writer) {
+func (m *multipleObjects) save(w *Writer) {
 	l := Uint(len(*m))
 	l.save(w)
 	for i := 0; i < int(l); i++ {
@@ -729,7 +740,7 @@ func (m *multipleObjects) save(w io.Writer) {
 }
 
 // load implements Object.load.
-func (*multipleObjects) load(r io.Reader) Object {
+func (*multipleObjects) load(r *Reader) Object {
 	m := loadMultipleObjects(r)
 	return &m
 }
@@ -738,13 +749,13 @@ func (*multipleObjects) load(r io.Reader) Object {
 type noObjects struct{}
 
 // loadNoObjects loads a sentinel.
-func loadNoObjects(r io.Reader) noObjects { return noObjects{} }
+func loadNoObjects(r *Reader) noObjects { return noObjects{} }
 
 // save implements Object.save.
-func (noObjects) save(w io.Writer) {}
+func (noObjects) save(w *Writer) {}
 
 // load implements Object.load.
-func (noObjects) load(r io.Reader) Object { return loadNoObjects(r) }
+func (noObjects) load(r *Reader) Object { return loadNoObjects(r) }
 
 // Struct is a basic composite value.
 type Struct struct {
@@ -799,7 +810,7 @@ func (s *Struct) Fields() int {
 }
 
 // loadStruct loads an object of type Struct.
-func loadStruct(r io.Reader) Struct {
+func loadStruct(r *Reader) Struct {
 	return Struct{
 		TypeID: TypeID(loadUint(r)),
 		fields: Load(r),
@@ -810,13 +821,13 @@ func loadStruct(r io.Reader) Struct {
 //
 // Precondition: Alloc must have been called, and the fields all filled in
 // appropriately. See Alloc and Add for more details.
-func (s *Struct) save(w io.Writer) {
+func (s *Struct) save(w *Writer) {
 	Uint(s.TypeID).save(w)
 	Save(w, s.fields)
 }
 
 // load implements Object.load.
-func (*Struct) load(r io.Reader) Object {
+func (*Struct) load(r *Reader) Object {
 	s := loadStruct(r)
 	return &s
 }
@@ -851,7 +862,7 @@ const (
 // +checkescape all
 //
 // N.B. This function will panic on error.
-func Save(w io.Writer, obj Object) {
+func Save(w *Writer, obj Object) {
 	switch x := obj.(type) {
 	case Bool:
 		typeBool.save(w)
@@ -917,7 +928,7 @@ func Save(w io.Writer, obj Object) {
 // +checkescape all
 //
 // N.B. This function will panic on error.
-func Load(r io.Reader) Object {
+func Load(r *Reader) Object {
 	switch hdr := loadUint(r); hdr {
 	case typeBool:
 		return loadBool(r)
@@ -964,13 +975,13 @@ func Load(r io.Reader) Object {
 // LoadUint loads a single unsigned integer.
 //
 // N.B. This function will panic on error.
-func LoadUint(r io.Reader) uint64 {
+func LoadUint(r *Reader) uint64 {
 	return uint64(loadUint(r))
 }
 
 // SaveUint saves a single unsigned integer.
 //
 // N.B. This function will panic on error.
-func SaveUint(w io.Writer, v uint64) {
+func SaveUint(w *Writer, v uint64) {
 	Uint(v).save(w)
 }