diff --git a/simdnbt-derive/src/lib.rs b/simdnbt-derive/src/lib.rs
index 356b9ea..9bc3741 100644
--- a/simdnbt-derive/src/lib.rs
+++ b/simdnbt-derive/src/lib.rs
@@ -34,7 +34,7 @@ pub fn deserialize_derive(input: proc_macro::TokenStream) -> proc_macro::TokenSt
 
                         field_deserializers.push(quote! {
                             #struct_field_name: simdnbt::FromNbtTag::from_optional_nbt_tag(
-                                nbt.take(#field_name)
+                                nbt.get(#field_name)
                             )?.ok_or(simdnbt::DeserializeError::MismatchedFieldType(#debug_ident.to_owned()))?
                         });
                     }
@@ -64,7 +64,7 @@ pub fn deserialize_derive(input: proc_macro::TokenStream) -> proc_macro::TokenSt
 
     let output = quote! {
         impl #generics simdnbt::Deserialize for #ident #generics #where_clause {
-            fn from_compound(mut nbt: simdnbt::owned::NbtCompound) -> Result<Self, simdnbt::DeserializeError> {
+            fn from_compound(mut nbt: &simdnbt::borrow::NbtCompound) -> Result<Self, simdnbt::DeserializeError> {
                 let value = Self {
                     #(#field_deserializers),*
                 };
@@ -168,7 +168,7 @@ pub fn from_nbt_tag_derive(input: proc_macro::TokenStream) -> proc_macro::TokenS
 
     let output = quote! {
         impl #generics simdnbt::FromNbtTag for #ident #generics #where_clause {
-            fn from_nbt_tag(tag: simdnbt::owned::NbtTag) -> Option<Self> {
+            fn from_nbt_tag(tag: &simdnbt::borrow::NbtTag) -> Option<Self> {
                 match tag.string()?.to_str().as_ref() {
                     #(#matchers)*
                     _ => None,
diff --git a/simdnbt/examples/hypixel.rs b/simdnbt/examples/hypixel.rs
index c0c9d45..63a5772 100644
--- a/simdnbt/examples/hypixel.rs
+++ b/simdnbt/examples/hypixel.rs
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 use std::{collections::HashMap, hint::black_box, io::Cursor};
 
-use simdnbt::{owned::Nbt, Deserialize, Serialize};
+use simdnbt::{Deserialize, Serialize};
 
 #[derive(Serialize, Deserialize, Debug, Clone, PartialEq)]
 pub struct Item {
@@ -68,13 +68,18 @@ fn main() {
     let input = black_box(include_bytes!("../tests/realworld.nbt"));
 
     for _ in 0..1 {
-        let nbt = Nbt::read(&mut Cursor::new(input));
+        let nbt = simdnbt::borrow::Nbt::read(&mut Cursor::new(input));
         let nbt = black_box(nbt.unwrap().unwrap());
 
-        let data = Base::from_nbt(nbt).unwrap();
+        let data = Base::from_nbt(&nbt).unwrap();
 
         // roundtrip
-        let new_data = Base::from_nbt(data.clone().to_nbt()).unwrap();
+        let mut new_nbt_bytes = Vec::new();
+        data.clone().to_nbt().write(&mut new_nbt_bytes);
+        let new_nbt = simdnbt::borrow::Nbt::read(&mut Cursor::new(&new_nbt_bytes[..]))
+            .unwrap()
+            .unwrap();
+        let new_data = Base::from_nbt(&new_nbt).unwrap();
         assert_eq!(data, new_data);
 
         println!("data: {:?}", data.items);
diff --git a/simdnbt/src/borrow/compound.rs b/simdnbt/src/borrow/compound.rs
index f7c39c1..43d9440 100644
--- a/simdnbt/src/borrow/compound.rs
+++ b/simdnbt/src/borrow/compound.rs
@@ -21,6 +21,10 @@ pub struct NbtCompound<'a> {
 }
 
 impl<'a> NbtCompound<'a> {
+    pub fn from_values(values: Vec<(&'a Mutf8Str, NbtTag<'a>)>) -> Self {
+        Self { values }
+    }
+
     pub fn read(data: &mut Cursor<&'a [u8]>) -> Result<Self, Error> {
         Self::read_with_depth(data, 0)
     }
@@ -204,4 +208,20 @@ impl<'a> NbtCompound<'a> {
     pub fn iter(&self) -> impl Iterator<Item = (&Mutf8Str, &NbtTag<'a>)> {
         self.values.iter().map(|(k, v)| (*k, v))
     }
+    pub fn len(&self) -> usize {
+        self.values.len()
+    }
+    pub fn is_empty(&self) -> bool {
+        self.values.is_empty()
+    }
+
+    pub fn to_owned(&self) -> crate::owned::NbtCompound {
+        crate::owned::NbtCompound {
+            values: self
+                .values
+                .iter()
+                .map(|(k, v)| ((*k).to_owned(), v.to_owned()))
+                .collect(),
+        }
+    }
 }
diff --git a/simdnbt/src/borrow/list.rs b/simdnbt/src/borrow/list.rs
index 4f8f321..a1f29aa 100644
--- a/simdnbt/src/borrow/list.rs
+++ b/simdnbt/src/borrow/list.rs
@@ -265,4 +265,43 @@ impl<'a> NbtList<'a> {
             _ => None,
         }
     }
+
+    pub fn to_owned(&self) -> crate::owned::NbtList {
+        match self {
+            NbtList::Empty => crate::owned::NbtList::Empty,
+            NbtList::Byte(bytes) => crate::owned::NbtList::Byte(bytes.to_vec()),
+            NbtList::Short(shorts) => crate::owned::NbtList::Short(shorts.to_vec()),
+            NbtList::Int(ints) => crate::owned::NbtList::Int(ints.to_vec()),
+            NbtList::Long(longs) => crate::owned::NbtList::Long(longs.to_vec()),
+            NbtList::Float(floats) => crate::owned::NbtList::Float(floats.to_vec()),
+            NbtList::Double(doubles) => crate::owned::NbtList::Double(doubles.to_vec()),
+            NbtList::ByteArray(byte_arrays) => crate::owned::NbtList::ByteArray(
+                byte_arrays.iter().map(|array| array.to_vec()).collect(),
+            ),
+            NbtList::String(strings) => crate::owned::NbtList::String(
+                strings.iter().map(|&string| string.to_owned()).collect(),
+            ),
+            NbtList::List(lists) => {
+                crate::owned::NbtList::List(lists.iter().map(|list| list.to_owned()).collect())
+            }
+            NbtList::Compound(compounds) => crate::owned::NbtList::Compound(
+                compounds
+                    .iter()
+                    .map(|compound| compound.to_owned())
+                    .collect(),
+            ),
+            NbtList::IntArray(int_arrays) => crate::owned::NbtList::IntArray(
+                int_arrays
+                    .iter()
+                    .map(|array| array.to_vec())
+                    .collect::<Vec<_>>(),
+            ),
+            NbtList::LongArray(long_arrays) => crate::owned::NbtList::LongArray(
+                long_arrays
+                    .iter()
+                    .map(|array| array.to_vec())
+                    .collect::<Vec<_>>(),
+            ),
+        }
+    }
 }
diff --git a/simdnbt/src/borrow/mod.rs b/simdnbt/src/borrow/mod.rs
index 1eacb19..c2093e9 100644
--- a/simdnbt/src/borrow/mod.rs
+++ b/simdnbt/src/borrow/mod.rs
@@ -200,6 +200,23 @@ impl<'a> NbtTag<'a> {
             _ => None,
         }
     }
+
+    pub fn to_owned(&self) -> crate::owned::NbtTag {
+        match self {
+            NbtTag::Byte(byte) => crate::owned::NbtTag::Byte(*byte),
+            NbtTag::Short(short) => crate::owned::NbtTag::Short(*short),
+            NbtTag::Int(int) => crate::owned::NbtTag::Int(*int),
+            NbtTag::Long(long) => crate::owned::NbtTag::Long(*long),
+            NbtTag::Float(float) => crate::owned::NbtTag::Float(*float),
+            NbtTag::Double(double) => crate::owned::NbtTag::Double(*double),
+            NbtTag::ByteArray(byte_array) => crate::owned::NbtTag::ByteArray(byte_array.to_vec()),
+            NbtTag::String(string) => crate::owned::NbtTag::String((*string).to_owned()),
+            NbtTag::List(list) => crate::owned::NbtTag::List(list.to_owned()),
+            NbtTag::Compound(compound) => crate::owned::NbtTag::Compound(compound.to_owned()),
+            NbtTag::IntArray(int_array) => crate::owned::NbtTag::IntArray(int_array.to_vec()),
+            NbtTag::LongArray(long_array) => crate::owned::NbtTag::LongArray(long_array.to_vec()),
+        }
+    }
 }
 
 #[cfg(test)]
diff --git a/simdnbt/src/traits.rs b/simdnbt/src/traits.rs
index bf3a289..606bc93 100644
--- a/simdnbt/src/traits.rs
+++ b/simdnbt/src/traits.rs
@@ -3,11 +3,11 @@ use std::{collections::HashMap, fmt::Display, hash::Hash, str::FromStr};
 use crate::DeserializeError;
 
 pub trait Deserialize: Sized {
-    fn from_nbt(nbt: crate::owned::BaseNbt) -> Result<Self, DeserializeError> {
-        Self::from_compound(nbt.into_inner())
+    fn from_nbt(nbt: &crate::borrow::BaseNbt) -> Result<Self, DeserializeError> {
+        Self::from_compound(nbt)
     }
 
-    fn from_compound(compound: crate::owned::NbtCompound) -> Result<Self, DeserializeError>;
+    fn from_compound(compound: &crate::borrow::NbtCompound) -> Result<Self, DeserializeError>;
 }
 
 pub trait Serialize: Sized {
@@ -19,9 +19,9 @@ pub trait Serialize: Sized {
 }
 
 pub trait FromNbtTag: Sized {
-    fn from_nbt_tag(tag: crate::owned::NbtTag) -> Option<Self>;
+    fn from_nbt_tag(tag: &crate::borrow::NbtTag) -> Option<Self>;
     fn from_optional_nbt_tag(
-        tag: Option<crate::owned::NbtTag>,
+        tag: Option<&crate::borrow::NbtTag>,
     ) -> Result<Option<Self>, DeserializeError> {
         match tag {
             Some(tag) => Ok(Self::from_nbt_tag(tag)),
@@ -38,10 +38,10 @@ pub trait ToNbtTag: Sized {
 }
 
 impl<K: Display + FromStr + Eq + Hash, V: FromNbtTag> Deserialize for HashMap<K, V> {
-    fn from_compound(compound: crate::owned::NbtCompound) -> Result<Self, DeserializeError> {
-        let mut hashmap = HashMap::with_capacity(compound.values.len());
+    fn from_compound(compound: &crate::borrow::NbtCompound) -> Result<Self, DeserializeError> {
+        let mut hashmap = HashMap::with_capacity(compound.len());
 
-        for (k, v) in compound.values {
+        for (k, v) in compound.iter() {
             let k_str = k.to_str();
             let k_parsed = k_str
                 .parse()
@@ -70,8 +70,8 @@ impl<K: Display + FromStr + Eq + Hash, V: ToNbtTag> Serialize for HashMap<K, V>
 }
 
 impl Deserialize for crate::owned::NbtCompound {
-    fn from_compound(compound: crate::owned::NbtCompound) -> Result<Self, DeserializeError> {
-        Ok(compound)
+    fn from_compound(compound: &crate::borrow::NbtCompound) -> Result<Self, DeserializeError> {
+        Ok(compound.to_owned())
     }
 }
 impl Serialize for crate::owned::NbtCompound {
@@ -81,9 +81,8 @@ impl Serialize for crate::owned::NbtCompound {
 }
 
 impl<T: Deserialize> FromNbtTag for T {
-    fn from_nbt_tag(tag: crate::owned::NbtTag) -> Option<Self> {
-        tag.into_compound()
-            .and_then(|c| Self::from_compound(c).ok())
+    fn from_nbt_tag(tag: &crate::borrow::NbtTag) -> Option<Self> {
+        tag.compound().and_then(|c| Self::from_compound(c).ok())
     }
 }
 
@@ -94,8 +93,8 @@ impl<T: Serialize> ToNbtTag for T {
 }
 
 impl FromNbtTag for crate::owned::NbtTag {
-    fn from_nbt_tag(tag: crate::owned::NbtTag) -> Option<Self> {
-        Some(tag)
+    fn from_nbt_tag(tag: &crate::borrow::NbtTag) -> Option<Self> {
+        Some(tag.to_owned())
     }
 }
 impl ToNbtTag for crate::owned::NbtTag {
@@ -106,7 +105,7 @@ impl ToNbtTag for crate::owned::NbtTag {
 
 // standard nbt types
 impl FromNbtTag for i8 {
-    fn from_nbt_tag(tag: crate::owned::NbtTag) -> Option<Self> {
+    fn from_nbt_tag(tag: &crate::borrow::NbtTag) -> Option<Self> {
         tag.byte()
     }
 }
@@ -117,7 +116,7 @@ impl ToNbtTag for i8 {
 }
 
 impl FromNbtTag for i16 {
-    fn from_nbt_tag(tag: crate::owned::NbtTag) -> Option<Self> {
+    fn from_nbt_tag(tag: &crate::borrow::NbtTag) -> Option<Self> {
         tag.short()
     }
 }
@@ -128,7 +127,7 @@ impl ToNbtTag for i16 {
 }
 
 impl FromNbtTag for i32 {
-    fn from_nbt_tag(tag: crate::owned::NbtTag) -> Option<Self> {
+    fn from_nbt_tag(tag: &crate::borrow::NbtTag) -> Option<Self> {
         tag.int()
     }
 }
@@ -139,7 +138,7 @@ impl ToNbtTag for i32 {
 }
 
 impl FromNbtTag for i64 {
-    fn from_nbt_tag(tag: crate::owned::NbtTag) -> Option<Self> {
+    fn from_nbt_tag(tag: &crate::borrow::NbtTag) -> Option<Self> {
         tag.long()
     }
 }
@@ -150,7 +149,7 @@ impl ToNbtTag for i64 {
 }
 
 impl FromNbtTag for f32 {
-    fn from_nbt_tag(tag: crate::owned::NbtTag) -> Option<Self> {
+    fn from_nbt_tag(tag: &crate::borrow::NbtTag) -> Option<Self> {
         tag.float()
     }
 }
@@ -161,7 +160,7 @@ impl ToNbtTag for f32 {
 }
 
 impl FromNbtTag for f64 {
-    fn from_nbt_tag(tag: crate::owned::NbtTag) -> Option<Self> {
+    fn from_nbt_tag(tag: &crate::borrow::NbtTag) -> Option<Self> {
         tag.double()
     }
 }
@@ -172,7 +171,7 @@ impl ToNbtTag for f64 {
 }
 
 impl FromNbtTag for String {
-    fn from_nbt_tag(tag: crate::owned::NbtTag) -> Option<Self> {
+    fn from_nbt_tag(tag: &crate::borrow::NbtTag) -> Option<Self> {
         tag.string().map(|s| s.to_string())
     }
 }
@@ -184,7 +183,7 @@ impl ToNbtTag for String {
 
 // unsigned integers
 impl FromNbtTag for u8 {
-    fn from_nbt_tag(tag: crate::owned::NbtTag) -> Option<Self> {
+    fn from_nbt_tag(tag: &crate::borrow::NbtTag) -> Option<Self> {
         tag.byte().map(|b| b as u8)
     }
 }
@@ -195,7 +194,7 @@ impl ToNbtTag for u8 {
 }
 
 impl FromNbtTag for u16 {
-    fn from_nbt_tag(tag: crate::owned::NbtTag) -> Option<Self> {
+    fn from_nbt_tag(tag: &crate::borrow::NbtTag) -> Option<Self> {
         tag.short().map(|s| s as u16)
     }
 }
@@ -206,7 +205,7 @@ impl ToNbtTag for u16 {
 }
 
 impl FromNbtTag for u32 {
-    fn from_nbt_tag(tag: crate::owned::NbtTag) -> Option<Self> {
+    fn from_nbt_tag(tag: &crate::borrow::NbtTag) -> Option<Self> {
         tag.int().map(|i| i as u32)
     }
 }
@@ -217,7 +216,7 @@ impl ToNbtTag for u32 {
 }
 
 impl FromNbtTag for u64 {
-    fn from_nbt_tag(tag: crate::owned::NbtTag) -> Option<Self> {
+    fn from_nbt_tag(tag: &crate::borrow::NbtTag) -> Option<Self> {
         tag.long().map(|l| l as u64)
     }
 }
@@ -229,7 +228,7 @@ impl ToNbtTag for u64 {
 
 // lists
 impl FromNbtTag for Vec<String> {
-    fn from_nbt_tag(tag: crate::owned::NbtTag) -> Option<Self> {
+    fn from_nbt_tag(tag: &crate::borrow::NbtTag) -> Option<Self> {
         tag.list().and_then(|l| {
             l.strings()
                 .map(|s| s.iter().map(|s| s.to_string()).collect())
@@ -246,11 +245,11 @@ impl ToNbtTag for Vec<String> {
 
 // slightly less standard types
 impl<T: FromNbtTag> FromNbtTag for Option<T> {
-    fn from_nbt_tag(tag: crate::owned::NbtTag) -> Option<Self> {
+    fn from_nbt_tag(tag: &crate::borrow::NbtTag) -> Option<Self> {
         Some(T::from_nbt_tag(tag))
     }
     fn from_optional_nbt_tag(
-        tag: Option<crate::owned::NbtTag>,
+        tag: Option<&crate::borrow::NbtTag>,
     ) -> Result<Option<Self>, DeserializeError> {
         match tag {
             Some(tag) => Ok(Some(T::from_nbt_tag(tag))),
@@ -269,11 +268,11 @@ impl<T: ToNbtTag> ToNbtTag for Option<T> {
 
 impl<T: Deserialize> FromNbtTag for Vec<Option<T>> {
     /// A list of compounds where `None` is an empty compound
-    fn from_nbt_tag(tag: crate::owned::NbtTag) -> Option<Self> {
-        let list = tag.into_list()?.into_compounds()?;
+    fn from_nbt_tag(tag: &crate::borrow::NbtTag) -> Option<Self> {
+        let list = tag.list()?.compounds()?;
         let mut vec = Vec::with_capacity(list.len());
         for tag in list {
-            if tag.values.is_empty() {
+            if tag.is_empty() {
                 vec.push(None);
             } else {
                 vec.push(Some(T::from_compound(tag).ok()?));
@@ -297,8 +296,8 @@ impl<T: Serialize> ToNbtTag for Vec<Option<T>> {
 }
 
 impl<T: Deserialize> FromNbtTag for Vec<T> {
-    fn from_nbt_tag(tag: crate::owned::NbtTag) -> Option<Self> {
-        let list = tag.into_list()?.into_compounds()?;
+    fn from_nbt_tag(tag: &crate::borrow::NbtTag) -> Option<Self> {
+        let list = tag.list()?.compounds()?;
         let mut vec = Vec::with_capacity(list.len());
         for tag in list {
             vec.push(T::from_compound(tag).ok()?);
@@ -316,7 +315,7 @@ impl<T: Serialize> ToNbtTag for Vec<T> {
 }
 
 impl FromNbtTag for bool {
-    fn from_nbt_tag(tag: crate::owned::NbtTag) -> Option<Self> {
+    fn from_nbt_tag(tag: &crate::borrow::NbtTag) -> Option<Self> {
         tag.byte().map(|b| b != 0)
     }
 }