diff --git a/codegen/tests/run-pass/complete-decorator.rs b/codegen/tests/run-pass/complete-decorator.rs
index 5fcc75c3..26c7a7d9 100644
--- a/codegen/tests/run-pass/complete-decorator.rs
+++ b/codegen/tests/run-pass/complete-decorator.rs
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@ struct User<'a> {
 }
 
 #[post("/<name>?<query>", format = "application/json", data = "<user>", rank = 2)]
-fn get<'r>(name: &str,
+fn get<'r>(name: &RawStr,
            query: User<'r>,
            user: Form<'r, User<'r>>,
            cookies: Cookies)
diff --git a/codegen/tests/run-pass/dynamic-paths.rs b/codegen/tests/run-pass/dynamic-paths.rs
index 92c331c6..b5f3a9c8 100644
--- a/codegen/tests/run-pass/dynamic-paths.rs
+++ b/codegen/tests/run-pass/dynamic-paths.rs
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@
 extern crate rocket;
 
 #[get("/test/<one>/<two>/<three>")]
-fn get(one: &str, two: usize, three: isize) -> &'static str { "hi" }
+fn get(one: String, two: usize, three: isize) -> &'static str { "hi" }
 
 fn main() {
     let _ = routes![get];
diff --git a/codegen/tests/run-pass/issue-1-colliding-names.rs b/codegen/tests/run-pass/issue-1-colliding-names.rs
index 284cf4d6..6c97c895 100644
--- a/codegen/tests/run-pass/issue-1-colliding-names.rs
+++ b/codegen/tests/run-pass/issue-1-colliding-names.rs
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@
 extern crate rocket;
 
 #[get("/<todo>")]
-fn todo(todo: &str) -> &str {
+fn todo(todo: String) -> String {
     todo
 }
 
diff --git a/contrib/src/uuid.rs b/contrib/src/uuid.rs
index a12232b4..6b9de682 100644
--- a/contrib/src/uuid.rs
+++ b/contrib/src/uuid.rs
@@ -84,7 +84,7 @@ impl<'a> FromParam<'a> for UUID {
     /// A value is successfully parsed if `param` is a properly formatted UUID.
     /// Otherwise, a `UuidParseError` is returned.
     #[inline(always)]
-    fn from_param(param: &'a str) -> Result<UUID, Self::Error> {
+    fn from_param(param: &'a RawStr) -> Result<UUID, Self::Error> {
         param.parse()
     }
 }
@@ -141,14 +141,14 @@ mod test {
     #[test]
     fn test_from_param() {
         let uuid_str = "c1aa1e3b-9614-4895-9ebd-705255fa5bc2";
-        let uuid_wrapper = UUID::from_param(uuid_str).unwrap();
+        let uuid_wrapper = UUID::from_param(uuid_str.into()).unwrap();
         assert_eq!(uuid_str, uuid_wrapper.to_string())
     }
 
     #[test]
     fn test_into_inner() {
         let uuid_str = "c1aa1e3b-9614-4895-9ebd-705255fa5bc2";
-        let uuid_wrapper = UUID::from_param(uuid_str).unwrap();
+        let uuid_wrapper = UUID::from_param(uuid_str.into()).unwrap();
         let real_uuid: uuid_ext::Uuid = uuid_str.parse().unwrap();
         let inner_uuid: uuid_ext::Uuid = uuid_wrapper.into_inner();
         assert_eq!(real_uuid, inner_uuid)
@@ -157,7 +157,7 @@ mod test {
     #[test]
     fn test_partial_eq() {
         let uuid_str = "c1aa1e3b-9614-4895-9ebd-705255fa5bc2";
-        let uuid_wrapper = UUID::from_param(uuid_str).unwrap();
+        let uuid_wrapper = UUID::from_param(uuid_str.into()).unwrap();
         let real_uuid: uuid_ext::Uuid = uuid_str.parse().unwrap();
         assert_eq!(uuid_wrapper, real_uuid)
     }
@@ -165,7 +165,7 @@ mod test {
     #[test]
     fn test_from_param_invalid() {
         let uuid_str = "c1aa1e3b-9614-4895-9ebd-705255fa5bc2p";
-        let uuid_result = UUID::from_param(uuid_str);
+        let uuid_result = UUID::from_param(uuid_str.into());
         assert_eq!(uuid_result, Err(UuidParseError::InvalidLength(37)));
     }
 }
diff --git a/examples/errors/src/main.rs b/examples/errors/src/main.rs
index cebdc34b..edcb3981 100644
--- a/examples/errors/src/main.rs
+++ b/examples/errors/src/main.rs
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@ extern crate rocket;
 use rocket::response::content;
 
 #[get("/hello/<name>/<age>")]
-fn hello(name: &str, age: i8) -> String {
+fn hello(name: String, age: i8) -> String {
     format!("Hello, {} year old named {}!", age, name)
 }
 
diff --git a/examples/extended_validation/src/main.rs b/examples/extended_validation/src/main.rs
index 75963d59..45dfd151 100644
--- a/examples/extended_validation/src/main.rs
+++ b/examples/extended_validation/src/main.rs
@@ -75,7 +75,7 @@ fn login<'a>(user_form: Form<'a, UserLogin<'a>>) -> Result<Redirect, String> {
 }
 
 #[get("/user/<username>")]
-fn user_page(username: &str) -> String {
+fn user_page(username: &RawStr) -> String {
     format!("This is {}'s page.", username)
 }
 
diff --git a/examples/hello_person/src/main.rs b/examples/hello_person/src/main.rs
index cb0c993d..a4769efe 100644
--- a/examples/hello_person/src/main.rs
+++ b/examples/hello_person/src/main.rs
@@ -6,12 +6,12 @@ extern crate rocket;
 #[cfg(test)] mod tests;
 
 #[get("/hello/<name>/<age>")]
-fn hello(name: &str, age: u8) -> String {
+fn hello(name: String, age: u8) -> String {
     format!("Hello, {} year old named {}!", age, name)
 }
 
 #[get("/hello/<name>")]
-fn hi<'r>(name: &'r str) -> &'r str {
+fn hi(name: String) -> String {
     name
 }
 
diff --git a/examples/hello_ranks/src/main.rs b/examples/hello_ranks/src/main.rs
index f8d12abd..ab1d6f6a 100644
--- a/examples/hello_ranks/src/main.rs
+++ b/examples/hello_ranks/src/main.rs
@@ -3,15 +3,17 @@
 
 extern crate rocket;
 
+use rocket::http::RawStr;
+
 #[cfg(test)] mod tests;
 
 #[get("/hello/<name>/<age>")]
-fn hello(name: &str, age: i8) -> String {
+fn hello(name: String, age: i8) -> String {
     format!("Hello, {} year old named {}!", age, name)
 }
 
 #[get("/hello/<name>/<age>", rank = 2)]
-fn hi(name: &str, age: &str) -> String {
+fn hi(name: String, age: &RawStr) -> String {
     format!("Hi {}! Your age ({}) is kind of funky.", name, age)
 }
 
diff --git a/examples/manual_routes/src/main.rs b/examples/manual_routes/src/main.rs
index 1e23f3f7..8720c2be 100644
--- a/examples/manual_routes/src/main.rs
+++ b/examples/manual_routes/src/main.rs
@@ -7,8 +7,7 @@ use std::io;
 use std::fs::File;
 
 use rocket::{Request, Route, Data, Catcher, Error};
-use rocket::http::Status;
-use rocket::request::FromParam;
+use rocket::http::{Status, RawStr};
 use rocket::response::{self, Responder};
 use rocket::response::status::Custom;
 use rocket::handler::Outcome;
@@ -23,7 +22,8 @@ fn hi(_req: &Request, _: Data) -> Outcome<'static> {
 }
 
 fn name<'a>(req: &'a Request, _: Data) -> Outcome<'a> {
-    Outcome::of(req.get_param(0).unwrap_or("unnamed"))
+    let param = req.get_param::<&'a RawStr>(0);
+    Outcome::of(param.map(|r| r.as_str()).unwrap_or("unnamed"))
 }
 
 fn echo_url(req: &Request, _: Data) -> Outcome<'static> {
@@ -31,7 +31,8 @@ fn echo_url(req: &Request, _: Data) -> Outcome<'static> {
         .as_str()
         .split_at(6)
         .1;
-    Outcome::of(String::from_param(param).unwrap())
+
+    Outcome::of(RawStr::from_str(param).url_decode())
 }
 
 fn upload<'r>(req: &'r Request, data: Data) -> Outcome<'r> {
diff --git a/examples/optional_redirect/src/main.rs b/examples/optional_redirect/src/main.rs
index a25fcf08..693ae1ec 100644
--- a/examples/optional_redirect/src/main.rs
+++ b/examples/optional_redirect/src/main.rs
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ extern crate rocket;
 mod tests;
 
 use rocket::response::Redirect;
+use rocket::http::RawStr;
 
 #[get("/")]
 fn root() -> Redirect {
@@ -13,8 +14,8 @@ fn root() -> Redirect {
 }
 
 #[get("/users/<name>")]
-fn user(name: &str) -> Result<&'static str, Redirect> {
-    match name {
+fn user(name: &RawStr) -> Result<&'static str, Redirect> {
+    match name.as_str() {
         "Sergio" => Ok("Hello, Sergio!"),
         _ => Err(Redirect::to("/users/login")),
     }
diff --git a/examples/optional_result/src/main.rs b/examples/optional_result/src/main.rs
index 7b47f32c..8edba794 100644
--- a/examples/optional_result/src/main.rs
+++ b/examples/optional_result/src/main.rs
@@ -3,11 +3,12 @@
 
 extern crate rocket;
 
-#[cfg(test)]
-mod tests;
+#[cfg(test)] mod tests;
+
+use rocket::http::RawStr;
 
 #[get("/users/<name>")]
-fn user(name: &str) -> Option<&'static str> {
+fn user(name: &RawStr) -> Option<&'static str> {
     if name == "Sergio" {
         Some("Hello, Sergio!")
     } else {
diff --git a/examples/pastebin/src/paste_id.rs b/examples/pastebin/src/paste_id.rs
index fee1aec3..2586b302 100644
--- a/examples/pastebin/src/paste_id.rs
+++ b/examples/pastebin/src/paste_id.rs
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@ use std::fmt;
 use std::borrow::Cow;
 
 use rocket::request::FromParam;
+use rocket::http::RawStr;
 use rand::{self, Rng};
 
 /// Table to retrieve base62 values from.
@@ -44,9 +45,9 @@ fn valid_id(id: &str) -> bool {
 /// Returns an instance of `PasteID` if the path segment is a valid ID.
 /// Otherwise returns the invalid ID as the `Err` value.
 impl<'a> FromParam<'a> for PasteID<'a> {
-    type Error = &'a str;
+    type Error = &'a RawStr;
 
-    fn from_param(param: &'a str) -> Result<PasteID<'a>, &'a str> {
+    fn from_param(param: &'a RawStr) -> Result<PasteID<'a>, &'a RawStr> {
         match valid_id(param) {
             true => Ok(PasteID(Cow::Borrowed(param))),
             false => Err(param)
diff --git a/lib/src/request/param.rs b/lib/src/request/param.rs
index bf3f9807..7602e277 100644
--- a/lib/src/request/param.rs
+++ b/lib/src/request/param.rs
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ use std::path::PathBuf;
 use std::fmt::Debug;
 
 use http::uri::{URI, Segments, SegmentError};
+use http::RawStr;
 
 /// Trait to convert a dynamic path segment string to a concrete value.
 ///
@@ -51,15 +52,16 @@ use http::uri::{URI, Segments, SegmentError};
 ///
 /// For instance, imagine you've asked for an `<id>` as a `usize`. To determine
 /// when the `<id>` was not a valid `usize` and retrieve the string that failed
-/// to parse, you can use a `Result<usize, &str>` type for the `<id>` parameter
-/// as follows:
+/// to parse, you can use a `Result<usize, &RawStr>` type for the `<id>`
+/// parameter as follows:
 ///
 /// ```rust
 /// # #![feature(plugin)]
 /// # #![plugin(rocket_codegen)]
 /// # extern crate rocket;
+/// # use rocket::http::RawStr;
 /// #[get("/<id>")]
-/// fn hello(id: Result<usize, &str>) -> String {
+/// fn hello(id: Result<usize, &RawStr>) -> String {
 ///     match id {
 ///         Ok(id_num) => format!("usize: {}", id_num),
 ///         Err(string) => format!("Not a usize: {}", string)
@@ -80,7 +82,7 @@ use http::uri::{URI, Segments, SegmentError};
 ///     type returns successfully. Otherwise, the raw path segment is returned
 ///     in the `Err` value.
 ///
-///   * **str**
+///   * **&RawStr**
 ///
 ///     _This implementation always returns successfully._
 ///
@@ -107,14 +109,6 @@ use http::uri::{URI, Segments, SegmentError};
 ///     The path segment is parsed by `T`'s `FromParam` implementation. The
 ///     returned `Result` value is returned.
 ///
-/// # `str` vs. `String`
-///
-/// Paths are URL encoded. As a result, the `str` `FromParam` implementation
-/// returns the raw, URL encoded version of the path segment string. On the
-/// other hand, `String` decodes the path parameter, but requires an allocation
-/// to do so. This tradeoff is similiar to that of form values, and you should
-/// use whichever makes sense for your application.
-///
 /// # Example
 ///
 /// Say you want to parse a segment of the form:
@@ -138,13 +132,14 @@ use http::uri::{URI, Segments, SegmentError};
 ///
 /// ```rust
 /// use rocket::request::FromParam;
+/// use rocket::http::RawStr;
 /// # #[allow(dead_code)]
 /// # struct MyParam<'r> { key: &'r str, value: usize }
 ///
 /// impl<'r> FromParam<'r> for MyParam<'r> {
-///     type Error = &'r str;
+///     type Error = &'r RawStr;
 ///
-///     fn from_param(param: &'r str) -> Result<MyParam<'r>, &'r str> {
+///     fn from_param(param: &'r RawStr) -> Result<Self, Self::Error> {
 ///         let (key, val_str) = match param.find(':') {
 ///             Some(i) if i > 0 => (&param[..i], &param[(i + 1)..]),
 ///             _ => return Err(param)
@@ -172,11 +167,12 @@ use http::uri::{URI, Segments, SegmentError};
 /// # #![plugin(rocket_codegen)]
 /// # extern crate rocket;
 /// # use rocket::request::FromParam;
+/// # use rocket::http::RawStr;
 /// # #[allow(dead_code)]
 /// # struct MyParam<'r> { key: &'r str, value: usize }
 /// # impl<'r> FromParam<'r> for MyParam<'r> {
-/// #     type Error = &'r str;
-/// #     fn from_param(param: &'r str) -> Result<MyParam<'r>, &'r str> {
+/// #     type Error = &'r RawStr;
+/// #     fn from_param(param: &'r RawStr) -> Result<Self, Self::Error> {
 /// #         Err(param)
 /// #     }
 /// # }
@@ -197,29 +193,35 @@ pub trait FromParam<'a>: Sized {
 
     /// Parses an instance of `Self` from a dynamic path parameter string or
     /// returns an `Error` if one cannot be parsed.
-    fn from_param(param: &'a str) -> Result<Self, Self::Error>;
+    fn from_param(param: &'a RawStr) -> Result<Self, Self::Error>;
 }
 
-impl<'a> FromParam<'a> for &'a str {
+impl<'a> FromParam<'a> for &'a RawStr {
     type Error = ();
-    fn from_param(param: &'a str) -> Result<&'a str, Self::Error> {
+
+    #[inline(always)]
+    fn from_param(param: &'a RawStr) -> Result<&'a RawStr, Self::Error> {
         Ok(param)
     }
 }
 
 impl<'a> FromParam<'a> for String {
-    type Error = &'a str;
-    fn from_param(p: &'a str) -> Result<String, Self::Error> {
-        URI::percent_decode(p.as_bytes()).map_err(|_| p).map(|s| s.into_owned())
+    type Error = &'a RawStr;
+
+    #[inline(always)]
+    fn from_param(param: &'a RawStr) -> Result<String, Self::Error> {
+        param.percent_decode().map(|cow| cow.into_owned()).map_err(|_| param)
     }
 }
 
 macro_rules! impl_with_fromstr {
     ($($T:ident),+) => ($(
         impl<'a> FromParam<'a> for $T {
-            type Error = &'a str;
-            fn from_param(param: &'a str) -> Result<Self, Self::Error> {
-                $T::from_str(param).map_err(|_| param)
+            type Error = &'a RawStr;
+
+            #[inline(always)]
+            fn from_param(param: &'a RawStr) -> Result<Self, Self::Error> {
+                $T::from_str(param.as_str()).map_err(|_| param)
             }
         }
     )+)
@@ -230,22 +232,26 @@ impl_with_fromstr!(f32, f64, isize, i8, i16, i32, i64, usize, u8, u16, u32, u64,
        SocketAddr);
 
 impl<'a, T: FromParam<'a>> FromParam<'a> for Result<T, T::Error> {
-    type Error = ();
-    fn from_param(p: &'a str) -> Result<Self, Self::Error> {
-        Ok(match T::from_param(p) {
-            Ok(val) => Ok(val),
-            Err(e) => Err(e),
-        })
+    type Error = !;
+
+    #[inline]
+    fn from_param(param: &'a RawStr) -> Result<Self, Self::Error> {
+        match T::from_param(param) {
+            Ok(val) => Ok(Ok(val)),
+            Err(e) => Ok(Err(e)),
+        }
     }
 }
 
 impl<'a, T: FromParam<'a>> FromParam<'a> for Option<T> {
-    type Error = ();
-    fn from_param(p: &'a str) -> Result<Self, Self::Error> {
-        Ok(match T::from_param(p) {
-            Ok(val) => Some(val),
-            Err(_) => None
-        })
+    type Error = !;
+
+    #[inline]
+    fn from_param(param: &'a RawStr) -> Result<Self, Self::Error> {
+        match T::from_param(param) {
+            Ok(val) => Ok(Some(val)),
+            Err(_) => Ok(None)
+        }
     }
 }
 
@@ -277,9 +283,10 @@ pub trait FromSegments<'a>: Sized {
 }
 
 impl<'a> FromSegments<'a> for Segments<'a> {
-    type Error = ();
+    type Error = !;
 
-    fn from_segments(segments: Segments<'a>) -> Result<Segments<'a>, ()> {
+    #[inline(always)]
+    fn from_segments(segments: Segments<'a>) -> Result<Segments<'a>, Self::Error> {
         Ok(segments)
     }
 }
@@ -335,21 +342,25 @@ impl<'a> FromSegments<'a> for PathBuf {
 }
 
 impl<'a, T: FromSegments<'a>> FromSegments<'a> for Result<T, T::Error> {
-    type Error = ();
-    fn from_segments(segments: Segments<'a>) -> Result<Result<T, T::Error>, ()> {
-        Ok(match T::from_segments(segments) {
-            Ok(val) => Ok(val),
-            Err(e) => Err(e),
-        })
+    type Error = !;
+
+    #[inline]
+    fn from_segments(segments: Segments<'a>) -> Result<Result<T, T::Error>, !> {
+        match T::from_segments(segments) {
+            Ok(val) => Ok(Ok(val)),
+            Err(e) => Ok(Err(e)),
+        }
     }
 }
 
 impl<'a, T: FromSegments<'a>> FromSegments<'a> for Option<T> {
-    type Error = ();
-    fn from_segments(segments: Segments<'a>) -> Result<Option<T>, ()> {
-        Ok(match T::from_segments(segments) {
-            Ok(val) => Some(val),
-            Err(_) => None
-        })
+    type Error = !;
+
+    #[inline]
+    fn from_segments(segments: Segments<'a>) -> Result<Option<T>, !> {
+        match T::from_segments(segments) {
+            Ok(val) => Ok(Some(val)),
+            Err(_) => Ok(None)
+        }
     }
 }
diff --git a/lib/src/request/request.rs b/lib/src/request/request.rs
index 6d607463..07ce0101 100644
--- a/lib/src/request/request.rs
+++ b/lib/src/request/request.rs
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@ use super::{FromParam, FromSegments};
 use router::Route;
 use http::uri::{URI, Segments};
 use http::{Method, Header, HeaderMap, Cookies, Session, CookieJar, Key};
-use http::{ContentType, Accept, MediaType};
+use http::{RawStr, ContentType, Accept, MediaType};
 use http::parse::media_type;
 use http::hyper;
 
@@ -362,7 +362,7 @@ impl<'r> Request<'r> {
     ///
     /// # Example
     ///
-    /// Retrieve parameter `0`, which is expected to be an `&str`, in a manual
+    /// Retrieve parameter `0`, which is expected to be a `String`, in a manual
     /// route:
     ///
     /// ```rust
@@ -371,7 +371,7 @@ impl<'r> Request<'r> {
     ///
     /// # #[allow(dead_code)]
     /// fn name<'a>(req: &'a Request, _: Data) -> Outcome<'a> {
-    ///     Outcome::of(req.get_param(0).unwrap_or("unnamed"))
+    ///     Outcome::of(req.get_param::<String>(0).unwrap_or("unnamed".into()))
     /// }
     /// ```
     pub fn get_param<'a, T: FromParam<'a>>(&'a self, n: usize) -> Result<T, Error> {
@@ -391,7 +391,7 @@ impl<'r> Request<'r> {
     /// Get the `n`th path parameter as a string, if it exists. This is used by
     /// codegen.
     #[doc(hidden)]
-    pub fn get_param_str(&self, n: usize) -> Option<&str> {
+    pub fn get_param_str(&self, n: usize) -> Option<&RawStr> {
         let params = self.extra.params.borrow();
         if n >= params.len() {
             debug!("{} is >= param count {}", n, params.len());
@@ -405,7 +405,7 @@ impl<'r> Request<'r> {
             return None;
         }
 
-        Some(&path[i..j])
+        Some(path[i..j].into())
     }
 
     /// Retrieves and parses into `T` all of the path segments in the request
diff --git a/lib/src/response/flash.rs b/lib/src/response/flash.rs
index ceb629e2..1fe1cf7f 100644
--- a/lib/src/response/flash.rs
+++ b/lib/src/response/flash.rs
@@ -53,9 +53,10 @@ const FLASH_COOKIE_NAME: &'static str = "_flash";
 /// #
 /// use rocket::response::{Flash, Redirect};
 /// use rocket::request::FlashMessage;
+/// use rocket::http::RawStr;
 ///
 /// #[post("/login/<name>")]
-/// fn login(name: &str) -> Result<&'static str, Flash<Redirect>> {
+/// fn login(name: &RawStr) -> Result<&'static str, Flash<Redirect>> {
 ///     if name == "special_user" {
 ///         Ok("Hello, special user!")
 ///     } else {