diff --git a/examples/basic.rs b/examples/basic.rs
index f91048371..256a990d9 100644
--- a/examples/basic.rs
+++ b/examples/basic.rs
@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@ use actix_web::middlewares::RequestSession;
 use futures::stream::{once, Once};
 
 /// somple handle
-fn index(mut req: HttpRequest, state: &()) -> Result<HttpResponse> {
+fn index(mut req: HttpRequest) -> Result<HttpResponse> {
     println!("{:?}", req);
     if let Ok(ch) = req.payload_mut().readany() {
         if let futures::Async::Ready(Some(d)) = ch {
@@ -32,7 +32,7 @@ fn index(mut req: HttpRequest, state: &()) -> Result<HttpResponse> {
 }
 
 /// somple handle
-fn index_async(req: HttpRequest, state: &()) -> Once<actix_web::Frame, Error>
+fn index_async(req: HttpRequest) -> Once<actix_web::Frame, Error>
 {
     println!("{:?}", req);
 
@@ -44,7 +44,7 @@ fn index_async(req: HttpRequest, state: &()) -> Once<actix_web::Frame, Error>
 }
 
 /// handle with path parameters like `/user/{name}/`
-fn with_param(req: HttpRequest, state: &()) -> Result<HttpResponse>
+fn with_param(req: HttpRequest) -> Result<HttpResponse>
 {
     println!("{:?}", req);
 
@@ -75,7 +75,7 @@ fn main() {
             // async handler
             .resource("/async/{name}", |r| r.async(Method::GET, index_async))
             // redirect
-            .resource("/", |r| r.handler(Method::GET, |req, _| {
+            .resource("/", |r| r.handler(Method::GET, |req| {
                 println!("{:?}", req);
 
                 Ok(httpcodes::HTTPFound
diff --git a/examples/state.rs b/examples/state.rs
index 22550a568..6b33a933f 100644
--- a/examples/state.rs
+++ b/examples/state.rs
@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
+#![cfg_attr(feature="cargo-clippy", allow(needless_pass_by_value))]
 //! There are two level of statfulness in actix-web. Application has state
 //! that is shared across all handlers within same Application.
 //! And individual handler can have state.
@@ -15,11 +16,11 @@ struct AppState {
 }
 
 /// somple handle
-fn index(req: HttpRequest, state: &AppState) -> HttpResponse {
+fn index(req: HttpRequest<AppState>) -> HttpResponse {
     println!("{:?}", req);
-    state.counter.set(state.counter.get() + 1);
+    req.state().counter.set(req.state().counter.get() + 1);
     httpcodes::HTTPOk.with_body(
-        format!("Num of requests: {}", state.counter.get()))
+        format!("Num of requests: {}", req.state().counter.get()))
 }
 
 /// `MyWebSocket` counts how many messages it receives from peer,
@@ -36,7 +37,7 @@ impl Route for MyWebSocket {
     /// Shared application state
     type State = AppState;
 
-    fn request(mut req: HttpRequest, ctx: &mut HttpContext<Self>) -> RouteResult<Self>
+    fn request(mut req: HttpRequest<AppState>, ctx: &mut HttpContext<Self>) -> RouteResult<Self>
     {
         let resp = ws::handshake(&req)?;
         ctx.start(resp);
@@ -44,6 +45,7 @@ impl Route for MyWebSocket {
         Reply::async(MyWebSocket{counter: 0})
     }
 }
+
 impl StreamHandler<ws::Message> for MyWebSocket {}
 impl Handler<ws::Message> for MyWebSocket {
     fn handle(&mut self, msg: ws::Message, ctx: &mut HttpContext<Self>)
@@ -64,7 +66,6 @@ impl Handler<ws::Message> for MyWebSocket {
     }
 }
 
-
 fn main() {
     ::std::env::set_var("RUST_LOG", "actix_web=info");
     let _ = env_logger::init();
diff --git a/src/application.rs b/src/application.rs
index 399cac8dc..8912438c2 100644
--- a/src/application.rs
+++ b/src/application.rs
@@ -24,19 +24,21 @@ pub struct Application<S> {
 
 impl<S: 'static> Application<S> {
 
-    fn run(&self, mut req: HttpRequest) -> Task {
+    fn run(&self, req: HttpRequest) -> Task {
+        let mut req = req.with_state(Rc::clone(&self.state));
+
         if let Some((params, h)) = self.router.recognize(req.path()) {
             if let Some(params) = params {
                 req.set_match_info(params);
             }
-            h.handle(req, Rc::clone(&self.state))
+            h.handle(req)
         } else {
             for (prefix, handler) in &self.handlers {
                 if req.path().starts_with(prefix) {
-                    return handler.handle(req, Rc::clone(&self.state))
+                    return handler.handle(req)
                 }
             }
-            self.default.handle(req, Rc::clone(&self.state))
+            self.default.handle(req)
         }
     }
 }
@@ -146,7 +148,7 @@ impl<S> ApplicationBuilder<S> where S: 'static {
     ///     let app = Application::default("/")
     ///         .resource("/test", |r| {
     ///              r.get::<MyRoute>();
-    ///              r.handler(Method::HEAD, |req, state| {
+    ///              r.handler(Method::HEAD, |req| {
     ///                  Ok(httpcodes::HTTPMethodNotAllowed)
     ///              });
     ///         })
@@ -190,7 +192,7 @@ impl<S> ApplicationBuilder<S> where S: 'static {
     ///
     /// fn main() {
     ///     let app = Application::default("/")
-    ///         .handler("/test", |req, state| {
+    ///         .handler("/test", |req| {
     ///              match *req.method() {
     ///                  Method::GET => httpcodes::HTTPOk,
     ///                  Method::POST => httpcodes::HTTPMethodNotAllowed,
@@ -201,7 +203,7 @@ impl<S> ApplicationBuilder<S> where S: 'static {
     /// }
     /// ```
     pub fn handler<P, F, R>(&mut self, path: P, handler: F) -> &mut Self
-        where F: Fn(HttpRequest, &S) -> R + 'static,
+        where F: Fn(HttpRequest<S>) -> R + 'static,
               R: Into<HttpResponse> + 'static,
               P: Into<String>,
     {
diff --git a/src/context.rs b/src/context.rs
index 89a145b81..6aa93e4ae 100644
--- a/src/context.rs
+++ b/src/context.rs
@@ -29,7 +29,6 @@ pub struct HttpContext<A> where A: Actor<Context=HttpContext<A>> + Route,
     address: ActorAddressCell<A>,
     stream: VecDeque<Frame>,
     wait: ActorWaitCell<A>,
-    app_state: Rc<<A as Route>::State>,
     disconnected: bool,
 }
 
@@ -102,10 +101,9 @@ impl<A> AsyncContextApi<A> for HttpContext<A> where A: Actor<Context=Self> + Rou
     }
 }
 
-impl<A> HttpContext<A> where A: Actor<Context=Self> + Route {
+impl<A> Default for HttpContext<A> where A: Actor<Context=Self> + Route {
 
-    pub fn new(state: Rc<<A as Route>::State>) -> HttpContext<A>
-    {
+    fn default() -> HttpContext<A> {
         HttpContext {
             act: None,
             state: ActorState::Started,
@@ -114,10 +112,12 @@ impl<A> HttpContext<A> where A: Actor<Context=Self> + Route {
             address: ActorAddressCell::default(),
             wait: ActorWaitCell::default(),
             stream: VecDeque::new(),
-            app_state: state,
             disconnected: false,
         }
     }
+}
+
+impl<A> HttpContext<A> where A: Actor<Context=Self> + Route {
 
     pub(crate) fn set_actor(&mut self, act: A) {
         self.act = Some(act)
@@ -126,11 +126,6 @@ impl<A> HttpContext<A> where A: Actor<Context=Self> + Route {
 
 impl<A> HttpContext<A> where A: Actor<Context=Self> + Route {
 
-    /// Shared application state
-    pub fn state(&self) -> &<A as Route>::State {
-        &self.app_state
-    }
-    
     /// Start response processing
     pub fn start<R: Into<HttpResponse>>(&mut self, response: R) {
         self.stream.push_back(Frame::Message(response.into()))
diff --git a/src/h1.rs b/src/h1.rs
index 3eaa5d0f2..335660d95 100644
--- a/src/h1.rs
+++ b/src/h1.rs
@@ -35,9 +35,14 @@ pub(crate) enum Http1Result {
     Switch,
 }
 
+#[derive(Debug)]
+enum Item {
+    Http1(HttpRequest),
+    Http2,
+}
+
 pub(crate) struct Http1<T: AsyncWrite + 'static, H: 'static> {
     router: Rc<Vec<H>>,
-    #[allow(dead_code)]
     addr: Option<SocketAddr>,
     stream: H1Writer<T>,
     reader: Reader,
@@ -268,12 +273,6 @@ impl<T, H> Http1<T, H>
     }
 }
 
-#[derive(Debug)]
-enum Item {
-    Http1(HttpRequest),
-    Http2,
-}
-
 struct Reader {
     h1: bool,
     payload: Option<PayloadInfo>,
diff --git a/src/httpcodes.rs b/src/httpcodes.rs
index bb5905aaf..5cf6b50ed 100644
--- a/src/httpcodes.rs
+++ b/src/httpcodes.rs
@@ -1,6 +1,5 @@
 //! Basic http responses
 #![allow(non_upper_case_globals)]
-use std::rc::Rc;
 use http::StatusCode;
 
 use body::Body;
@@ -70,7 +69,7 @@ impl StaticResponse {
 }
 
 impl<S> RouteHandler<S> for StaticResponse {
-    fn handle(&self, _: HttpRequest, _: Rc<S>) -> Task {
+    fn handle(&self, _: HttpRequest<S>) -> Task {
         Task::reply(HttpResponse::new(self.0, Body::Empty))
     }
 }
diff --git a/src/httprequest.rs b/src/httprequest.rs
index 75db9b939..720461151 100644
--- a/src/httprequest.rs
+++ b/src/httprequest.rs
@@ -48,9 +48,9 @@ impl Default for HttpMessage {
 }
 
 /// An HTTP Request
-pub struct HttpRequest(Rc<HttpMessage>);
+pub struct HttpRequest<S=()>(Rc<HttpMessage>, Rc<S>);
 
-impl HttpRequest {
+impl HttpRequest<()> {
     /// Construct a new Request.
     #[inline]
     pub fn new(method: Method, path: String, version: Version,
@@ -69,20 +69,36 @@ impl HttpRequest {
                 addr: None,
                 payload: payload,
                 extensions: Extensions::new(),
-            })
+            }),
+            Rc::new(())
         )
     }
 
+    /// Construct request for error response.
     pub(crate) fn for_error() -> HttpRequest {
-        HttpRequest(Rc::new(HttpMessage::default()))
+        HttpRequest(Rc::new(HttpMessage::default()), Rc::new(()))
     }
 
+    /// Construct new http request with state.
+    pub(crate) fn with_state<S>(self, state: Rc<S>) -> HttpRequest<S> {
+        HttpRequest(self.0, state)
+    }
+}
+
+impl<S> HttpRequest<S> {
+
+    /// get mutable reference for inner message
     fn as_mut(&mut self) -> &mut HttpMessage {
         let r: &HttpMessage = self.0.as_ref();
         #[allow(mutable_transmutes)]
         unsafe{mem::transmute(r)}
     }
 
+    /// Shared application state
+    pub fn state(&self) -> &S {
+        &self.1
+    }
+
     /// Protocol extensions.
     #[inline]
     pub fn extensions(&mut self) -> &mut Extensions {
@@ -317,13 +333,13 @@ impl HttpRequest {
     }
 }
 
-impl Clone for HttpRequest {
-    fn clone(&self) -> HttpRequest {
-        HttpRequest(Rc::clone(&self.0))
+impl<S> Clone for HttpRequest<S> {
+    fn clone(&self) -> HttpRequest<S> {
+        HttpRequest(Rc::clone(&self.0), Rc::clone(&self.1))
     }
 }
 
-impl fmt::Debug for HttpRequest {
+impl<S> fmt::Debug for HttpRequest<S> {
     fn fmt(&self, f: &mut fmt::Formatter) -> fmt::Result {
         let res = write!(f, "\nHttpRequest {:?} {}:{}\n",
                          self.0.version, self.0.method, self.0.path);
diff --git a/src/resource.rs b/src/resource.rs
index 54f7c43b1..ceb275b76 100644
--- a/src/resource.rs
+++ b/src/resource.rs
@@ -1,4 +1,3 @@
-use std::rc::Rc;
 use std::marker::PhantomData;
 use std::collections::HashMap;
 
@@ -64,7 +63,7 @@ impl<S> Resource<S> where S: 'static {
 
     /// Register handler for specified method.
     pub fn handler<F, R>(&mut self, method: Method, handler: F)
-        where F: Fn(HttpRequest, &S) -> Result<R> + 'static,
+        where F: Fn(HttpRequest<S>) -> Result<R> + 'static,
               R: Into<HttpResponse> + 'static,
     {
         self.routes.insert(method, Box::new(FnHandler::new(handler)));
@@ -72,7 +71,7 @@ impl<S> Resource<S> where S: 'static {
 
     /// Register async handler for specified method.
     pub fn async<F, R>(&mut self, method: Method, handler: F)
-        where F: Fn(HttpRequest, &S) -> R + 'static,
+        where F: Fn(HttpRequest<S>) -> R + 'static,
               R: Stream<Item=Frame, Error=Error> + 'static,
     {
         self.routes.insert(method, Box::new(StreamHandler::new(handler)));
@@ -125,11 +124,11 @@ impl<S> Resource<S> where S: 'static {
 
 impl<S: 'static> RouteHandler<S> for Resource<S> {
 
-    fn handle(&self, req: HttpRequest, state: Rc<S>) -> Task {
+    fn handle(&self, req: HttpRequest<S>) -> Task {
         if let Some(handler) = self.routes.get(req.method()) {
-            handler.handle(req, state)
+            handler.handle(req)
         } else {
-            self.default.handle(req, state)
+            self.default.handle(req)
         }
     }
 }
diff --git a/src/route.rs b/src/route.rs
index 3a1ccfd8f..b7289eb55 100644
--- a/src/route.rs
+++ b/src/route.rs
@@ -33,7 +33,7 @@ impl Frame {
 #[allow(unused_variables)]
 pub trait RouteHandler<S>: 'static {
     /// Handle request
-    fn handle(&self, req: HttpRequest, state: Rc<S>) -> Task;
+    fn handle(&self, req: HttpRequest<S>) -> Task;
 
     /// Set route prefix
     fn set_prefix(&mut self, prefix: String) {}
@@ -46,11 +46,11 @@ pub type RouteResult<T> = Result<Reply<T>, Error>;
 #[allow(unused_variables)]
 pub trait Route: Actor {
     /// Shared state. State is shared with all routes within same application
-    /// and could be accessed with `HttpContext::state()` method.
+    /// and could be accessed with `HttpRequest::state()` method.
     type State;
 
     /// Handle `EXPECT` header. By default respones with `HTTP/1.1 100 Continue`
-    fn expect(req: &mut HttpRequest, ctx: &mut Self::Context) -> Result<(), Error>
+    fn expect(req: &mut HttpRequest<Self::State>, ctx: &mut Self::Context) -> Result<(), Error>
         where Self: Actor<Context=HttpContext<Self>>
     {
         // handle expect header only for HTTP/1.1
@@ -80,7 +80,7 @@ pub trait Route: Actor {
     /// request/response or websocket connection.
     /// In that case `HttpContext::start` and `HttpContext::write` has to be used
     /// for writing response.
-    fn request(req: HttpRequest, ctx: &mut Self::Context) -> RouteResult<Self>;
+    fn request(req: HttpRequest<Self::State>, ctx: &mut Self::Context) -> RouteResult<Self>;
 
     /// This method creates `RouteFactory` for this actor.
     fn factory() -> RouteFactory<Self, Self::State> {
@@ -95,8 +95,8 @@ impl<A, S> RouteHandler<S> for RouteFactory<A, S>
     where A: Actor<Context=HttpContext<A>> + Route<State=S>,
           S: 'static
 {
-    fn handle(&self, mut req: HttpRequest, state: Rc<A::State>) -> Task {
-        let mut ctx = HttpContext::new(state);
+    fn handle(&self, mut req: HttpRequest<A::State>) -> Task {
+        let mut ctx = HttpContext::default();
 
         // handle EXPECT header
         if req.headers().contains_key(header::EXPECT) {
@@ -114,7 +114,7 @@ impl<A, S> RouteHandler<S> for RouteFactory<A, S>
 /// Fn() route handler
 pub(crate)
 struct FnHandler<S, R, F>
-    where F: Fn(HttpRequest, &S) -> R + 'static,
+    where F: Fn(HttpRequest<S>) -> R + 'static,
           R: Into<HttpResponse>,
           S: 'static,
 {
@@ -123,7 +123,7 @@ struct FnHandler<S, R, F>
 }
 
 impl<S, R, F> FnHandler<S, R, F>
-    where F: Fn(HttpRequest, &S) -> R + 'static,
+    where F: Fn(HttpRequest<S>) -> R + 'static,
           R: Into<HttpResponse> + 'static,
           S: 'static,
 {
@@ -133,19 +133,19 @@ impl<S, R, F> FnHandler<S, R, F>
 }
 
 impl<S, R, F> RouteHandler<S> for FnHandler<S, R, F>
-    where F: Fn(HttpRequest, &S) -> R + 'static,
+    where F: Fn(HttpRequest<S>) -> R + 'static,
           R: Into<HttpResponse> + 'static,
           S: 'static,
 {
-    fn handle(&self, req: HttpRequest, state: Rc<S>) -> Task {
-        Task::reply((self.f)(req, &state).into())
+    fn handle(&self, req: HttpRequest<S>) -> Task {
+        Task::reply((self.f)(req).into())
     }
 }
 
 /// Async route handler
 pub(crate)
 struct StreamHandler<S, R, F>
-    where F: Fn(HttpRequest, &S) -> R + 'static,
+    where F: Fn(HttpRequest<S>) -> R + 'static,
           R: Stream<Item=Frame, Error=Error> + 'static,
           S: 'static,
 {
@@ -154,7 +154,7 @@ struct StreamHandler<S, R, F>
 }
 
 impl<S, R, F> StreamHandler<S, R, F>
-    where F: Fn(HttpRequest, &S) -> R + 'static,
+    where F: Fn(HttpRequest<S>) -> R + 'static,
           R: Stream<Item=Frame, Error=Error> + 'static,
           S: 'static,
 {
@@ -164,11 +164,11 @@ impl<S, R, F> StreamHandler<S, R, F>
 }
 
 impl<S, R, F> RouteHandler<S> for StreamHandler<S, R, F>
-    where F: Fn(HttpRequest, &S) -> R + 'static,
+    where F: Fn(HttpRequest<S>) -> R + 'static,
           R: Stream<Item=Frame, Error=Error> + 'static,
           S: 'static,
 {
-    fn handle(&self, req: HttpRequest, state: Rc<S>) -> Task {
-        Task::with_stream((self.f)(req, &state))
+    fn handle(&self, req: HttpRequest<S>) -> Task {
+        Task::with_stream((self.f)(req))
     }
 }
diff --git a/src/staticfiles.rs b/src/staticfiles.rs
index 97cd44070..d19b93a55 100644
--- a/src/staticfiles.rs
+++ b/src/staticfiles.rs
@@ -3,7 +3,6 @@
 //! TODO: needs to re-implement actual files handling, current impl blocks
 use std::io;
 use std::io::Read;
-use std::rc::Rc;
 use std::fmt::Write;
 use std::fs::{File, DirEntry};
 use std::path::PathBuf;
@@ -137,7 +136,7 @@ impl<S: 'static> RouteHandler<S> for StaticFiles {
         }
     }
 
-    fn handle(&self, req: HttpRequest, _: Rc<S>) -> Task {
+    fn handle(&self, req: HttpRequest<S>) -> Task {
         if !self.accessible {
             Task::reply(HTTPNotFound)
         } else {
diff --git a/src/ws.rs b/src/ws.rs
index 910248192..3d9e65058 100644
--- a/src/ws.rs
+++ b/src/ws.rs
@@ -108,7 +108,7 @@ impl ResponseType for Message {
 // /// `protocols` is a sequence of known protocols. On successful handshake,
 // /// the returned response headers contain the first protocol in this list
 // /// which the server also knows.
-pub fn handshake(req: &HttpRequest) -> Result<HttpResponse, WsHandshakeError> {
+pub fn handshake<S>(req: &HttpRequest<S>) -> Result<HttpResponse, WsHandshakeError> {
     // WebSocket accepts only GET
     if *req.method() != Method::GET {
         return Err(WsHandshakeError::GetMethodRequired)
@@ -176,7 +176,7 @@ pub struct WsStream {
 }
 
 impl WsStream {
-    pub fn new(req: &mut HttpRequest) -> WsStream {
+    pub fn new<S>(req: &mut HttpRequest<S>) -> WsStream {
         WsStream { rx: req.take_payload(), buf: BytesMut::new(), closed: false, error_sent: false }
     }
 }
diff --git a/tests/test_server.rs b/tests/test_server.rs
index da506b26d..03a6a4850 100644
--- a/tests/test_server.rs
+++ b/tests/test_server.rs
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@ fn create_server<T, A>() -> HttpServer<T, A, Application<()>> {
     HttpServer::new(
         vec![Application::default("/")
              .resource("/", |r|
-                       r.handler(Method::GET, |_, _| {
+                       r.handler(Method::GET, |_| {
                            Ok(httpcodes::HTTPOk)
                        }))
              .finish()])
@@ -96,7 +96,7 @@ fn test_middlewares() {
                                             response: act_num2,
                                             finish: act_num3})
                  .resource("/", |r|
-                           r.handler(Method::GET, |_, _| {
+                           r.handler(Method::GET, |_| {
                                Ok(httpcodes::HTTPOk)
                            }))
                  .finish()])