diff --git a/main.go b/main.go
index a928b2b..c584f95 100644
--- a/main.go
+++ b/main.go
@@ -9,7 +9,6 @@ import (
 	"fmt"
 	"io"
 	"os"
-	// "reflect"
 	"runtime/pprof"
 	"strings"
 )
@@ -130,11 +129,9 @@ func main() {
 	for m := range c {
 		if m.error != nil {
 			fmt.Fprintln(os.Stderr, m.error)
-		} else {
-			// fmt.Println(reflect.TypeOf(m.Message))
 		}
 	}
 	if p.err != nil {
-		fmt.Println(err)
+		fmt.Printf("parser error: %v\n", p.err)
 	}
 }
diff --git a/packet.go b/packet.go
index d60d7f4..79c1d99 100644
--- a/packet.go
+++ b/packet.go
@@ -4,21 +4,24 @@ import (
 	"fmt"
 
 	"github.com/golang/protobuf/proto"
+	"github.com/golang/snappy"
 )
 
 // packet represents the top-level envelope in the dota replay format. All
 // data in the replay file is packed into packets of at most 65kb.
 type packet struct {
-	cmd  packetType
-	tick int64
-	body []byte
+	cmd        packetType
+	tick       int64
+	compressed bool
+	size       int
+	body       []byte
 }
 
 func (p packet) String() string {
 	if len(p.body) > 30 {
-		return fmt.Sprintf("{packet cmd: %v tick: %v size: %d body: %x...}", p.cmd, p.tick, len(p.body), p.body[:27])
+		return fmt.Sprintf("{packet cmd: %v tick: %v size: %d body: %x...}", p.cmd, p.tick, p.size, p.body[:27])
 	}
-	return fmt.Sprintf("{packet cmd: %v tick: %v size: %d body: %x}", p.cmd, p.tick, len(p.body), p.body)
+	return fmt.Sprintf("{packet cmd: %v tick: %v size: %d body: %x}", p.cmd, p.tick, p.size, p.body)
 }
 
 func (p *packet) Open(m *messageFactory, pbuf *proto.Buffer) (proto.Message, error) {
@@ -26,7 +29,17 @@ func (p *packet) Open(m *messageFactory, pbuf *proto.Buffer) (proto.Message, err
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, err
 	}
-	pbuf.SetBuf(p.body)
+
+	if p.compressed {
+		buf, err := snappy.Decode(nil, p.body[:p.size])
+		if err != nil {
+			return nil, wrap(err, "packet open failed snappy decode")
+		}
+		pbuf.SetBuf(buf)
+	} else {
+		pbuf.SetBuf(p.body[:p.size])
+	}
+
 	if err := pbuf.Unmarshal(msg); err != nil {
 		return nil, err
 	}
diff --git a/parser.go b/parser.go
index a1443bc..ca59c13 100644
--- a/parser.go
+++ b/parser.go
@@ -4,9 +4,9 @@ import (
 	"bufio"
 	"fmt"
 	"io"
+	"sync"
 
 	"github.com/golang/protobuf/proto"
-	"github.com/golang/snappy"
 	"github.com/jordanorelli/hyperstone/bit"
 	"github.com/jordanorelli/hyperstone/dota"
 )
@@ -21,6 +21,8 @@ type parser struct {
 
 	ewl entityWhitelist
 	pwl packetWhitelist
+
+	packets *sync.Pool
 }
 
 func newParser(r io.Reader) *parser {
@@ -30,6 +32,11 @@ func newParser(r io.Reader) *parser {
 		pbuf:    new(proto.Buffer),
 		ewl:     allEntities,
 		pwl:     allPackets,
+		packets: &sync.Pool{
+			New: func() interface{} {
+				return &packet{body: make([]byte, 1<<16)}
+			},
+		},
 	}
 }
 
@@ -58,6 +65,8 @@ func (p *parser) run(out chan maybe) {
 			return
 		}
 
+		p.packets.Put(pkt)
+
 		switch m := msg.(type) {
 		case *dota.CDemoPacket:
 			p.emitChildren(m, out)
@@ -202,23 +211,17 @@ func (p *parser) readPacket() (*packet, error) {
 		return p.readPacket()
 	}
 
+	pkt := p.packets.Get().(*packet)
+	pkt.cmd = cmd
+	pkt.tick = int64(tick)
+	pkt.size = int(size)
+	pkt.compressed = compressed
+
 	if size > 0 {
-		buf := make([]byte, int(size))
-		if _, err := io.ReadFull(p.source, buf); err != nil {
+		if _, err := io.ReadFull(p.source, pkt.body[:pkt.size]); err != nil {
 			return nil, wrap(err, "readPacket couldn't read packet body")
 		}
-
-		if compressed {
-			var err error
-			buf, err = snappy.Decode(nil, buf)
-			if err != nil {
-				return nil, wrap(err, "readPacket couldn't snappy decode body")
-			}
-		}
-		// TODO: pool these!
-		return &packet{cmd, int64(tick), buf}, nil
 	}
 
-	// TODO: pool these!
-	return &packet{cmd, int64(tick), nil}, nil
+	return pkt, nil
 }