diff --git a/benchmark/streams/readable-bigread.js b/benchmark/streams/readable-bigread.js
index 0d963c6803299e..8b36f49d7ffa53 100644
--- a/benchmark/streams/readable-bigread.js
+++ b/benchmark/streams/readable-bigread.js
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@ function main({ n }) {
 
   bench.start();
   for (let k = 0; k < n; ++k) {
-    for (let i = 0; i < 1e4; ++i)
+    for (let i = 0; i < 1e3; ++i)
       s.push(b);
     while (s.read(128));
   }
diff --git a/benchmark/streams/readable-readall.js b/benchmark/streams/readable-readall.js
index b62b1d05b13876..c1a015a4d02716 100644
--- a/benchmark/streams/readable-readall.js
+++ b/benchmark/streams/readable-readall.js
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@ function main({ n }) {
 
   bench.start();
   for (let k = 0; k < n; ++k) {
-    for (let i = 0; i < 1e4; ++i)
+    for (let i = 0; i < 1e3; ++i)
       s.push(b);
     while (s.read());
   }
diff --git a/lib/internal/streams/buffer_list.js b/lib/internal/streams/buffer_list.js
deleted file mode 100644
index 4629bdbf165e4f..00000000000000
--- a/lib/internal/streams/buffer_list.js
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,181 +0,0 @@
-'use strict';
-
-const {
-  StringPrototypeSlice,
-  SymbolIterator,
-  TypedArrayPrototypeSet,
-  Uint8Array,
-} = primordials;
-
-const { Buffer } = require('buffer');
-const { inspect } = require('internal/util/inspect');
-
-module.exports = class BufferList {
-  constructor() {
-    this.head = null;
-    this.tail = null;
-    this.length = 0;
-  }
-
-  push(v) {
-    const entry = { data: v, next: null };
-    if (this.length > 0)
-      this.tail.next = entry;
-    else
-      this.head = entry;
-    this.tail = entry;
-    ++this.length;
-  }
-
-  unshift(v) {
-    const entry = { data: v, next: this.head };
-    if (this.length === 0)
-      this.tail = entry;
-    this.head = entry;
-    ++this.length;
-  }
-
-  shift() {
-    if (this.length === 0)
-      return;
-    const ret = this.head.data;
-    if (this.length === 1)
-      this.head = this.tail = null;
-    else
-      this.head = this.head.next;
-    --this.length;
-    return ret;
-  }
-
-  clear() {
-    this.head = this.tail = null;
-    this.length = 0;
-  }
-
-  join(s) {
-    if (this.length === 0)
-      return '';
-    let p = this.head;
-    let ret = '' + p.data;
-    while ((p = p.next) !== null)
-      ret += s + p.data;
-    return ret;
-  }
-
-  concat(n) {
-    if (this.length === 0)
-      return Buffer.alloc(0);
-    const ret = Buffer.allocUnsafe(n >>> 0);
-    let p = this.head;
-    let i = 0;
-    while (p) {
-      TypedArrayPrototypeSet(ret, p.data, i);
-      i += p.data.length;
-      p = p.next;
-    }
-    return ret;
-  }
-
-  // Consumes a specified amount of bytes or characters from the buffered data.
-  consume(n, hasStrings) {
-    const data = this.head.data;
-    if (n < data.length) {
-      // `slice` is the same for buffers and strings.
-      const slice = data.slice(0, n);
-      this.head.data = data.slice(n);
-      return slice;
-    }
-    if (n === data.length) {
-      // First chunk is a perfect match.
-      return this.shift();
-    }
-    // Result spans more than one buffer.
-    return hasStrings ? this._getString(n) : this._getBuffer(n);
-  }
-
-  first() {
-    return this.head.data;
-  }
-
-  *[SymbolIterator]() {
-    for (let p = this.head; p; p = p.next) {
-      yield p.data;
-    }
-  }
-
-  // Consumes a specified amount of characters from the buffered data.
-  _getString(n) {
-    let ret = '';
-    let p = this.head;
-    let c = 0;
-    do {
-      const str = p.data;
-      if (n > str.length) {
-        ret += str;
-        n -= str.length;
-      } else {
-        if (n === str.length) {
-          ret += str;
-          ++c;
-          if (p.next)
-            this.head = p.next;
-          else
-            this.head = this.tail = null;
-        } else {
-          ret += StringPrototypeSlice(str, 0, n);
-          this.head = p;
-          p.data = StringPrototypeSlice(str, n);
-        }
-        break;
-      }
-      ++c;
-    } while ((p = p.next) !== null);
-    this.length -= c;
-    return ret;
-  }
-
-  // Consumes a specified amount of bytes from the buffered data.
-  _getBuffer(n) {
-    const ret = Buffer.allocUnsafe(n);
-    const retLen = n;
-    let p = this.head;
-    let c = 0;
-    do {
-      const buf = p.data;
-      if (n > buf.length) {
-        TypedArrayPrototypeSet(ret, buf, retLen - n);
-        n -= buf.length;
-      } else {
-        if (n === buf.length) {
-          TypedArrayPrototypeSet(ret, buf, retLen - n);
-          ++c;
-          if (p.next)
-            this.head = p.next;
-          else
-            this.head = this.tail = null;
-        } else {
-          TypedArrayPrototypeSet(ret,
-                                 new Uint8Array(buf.buffer, buf.byteOffset, n),
-                                 retLen - n);
-          this.head = p;
-          p.data = buf.slice(n);
-        }
-        break;
-      }
-      ++c;
-    } while ((p = p.next) !== null);
-    this.length -= c;
-    return ret;
-  }
-
-  // Make sure the linked list only shows the minimal necessary information.
-  [inspect.custom](_, options) {
-    return inspect(this, {
-      ...options,
-      // Only inspect one level.
-      depth: 0,
-      // It should not recurse.
-      customInspect: false,
-    });
-  }
-};
diff --git a/lib/internal/streams/readable.js b/lib/internal/streams/readable.js
index a129b1b6f4b75d..3735f264302652 100644
--- a/lib/internal/streams/readable.js
+++ b/lib/internal/streams/readable.js
@@ -31,9 +31,11 @@ const {
   ObjectSetPrototypeOf,
   Promise,
   SafeSet,
+  Symbol,
   SymbolAsyncDispose,
   SymbolAsyncIterator,
-  Symbol,
+  SymbolSpecies,
+  TypedArrayPrototypeSet,
 } = primordials;
 
 module.exports = Readable;
@@ -51,7 +53,6 @@ const eos = require('internal/streams/end-of-stream');
 let debug = require('internal/util/debuglog').debuglog('stream', (fn) => {
   debug = fn;
 });
-const BufferList = require('internal/streams/buffer_list');
 const destroyImpl = require('internal/streams/destroy');
 const {
   getHighWaterMark,
@@ -73,6 +74,7 @@ const {
 const { validateObject } = require('internal/validators');
 
 const kState = Symbol('kState');
+const FastBuffer = Buffer[SymbolSpecies];
 
 const { StringDecoder } = require('string_decoder');
 const from = require('internal/streams/from');
@@ -275,10 +277,8 @@ function ReadableState(options, stream, isDuplex) {
     getHighWaterMark(this, options, 'readableHighWaterMark', isDuplex) :
     getDefaultHighWaterMark(false);
 
-  // A linked list is used to store data chunks instead of an array because the
-  // linked list can remove elements from the beginning faster than
-  // array.shift().
-  this.buffer = new BufferList();
+  this.buffer = [];
+  this.bufferIndex = 0;
   this.length = 0;
   this.pipes = [];
 
@@ -546,10 +546,15 @@ function addChunk(stream, state, chunk, addToFront) {
   } else {
     // Update the buffer info.
     state.length += (state[kState] & kObjectMode) !== 0 ? 1 : chunk.length;
-    if (addToFront)
-      state.buffer.unshift(chunk);
-    else
+    if (addToFront) {
+      if (state.bufferIndex > 0) {
+        state.buffer[--state.bufferIndex] = chunk;
+      } else {
+        state.buffer.unshift(chunk); // Slow path
+      }
+    } else {
       state.buffer.push(chunk);
+    }
 
     if ((state[kState] & kNeedReadable) !== 0)
       emitReadable(stream);
@@ -564,21 +569,24 @@ Readable.prototype.isPaused = function() {
 
 // Backwards compatibility.
 Readable.prototype.setEncoding = function(enc) {
+  const state = this._readableState;
+
   const decoder = new StringDecoder(enc);
-  this._readableState.decoder = decoder;
+  state.decoder = decoder;
   // If setEncoding(null), decoder.encoding equals utf8.
-  this._readableState.encoding = this._readableState.decoder.encoding;
+  state.encoding = state.decoder.encoding;
 
-  const buffer = this._readableState.buffer;
   // Iterate over current buffer to convert already stored Buffers:
   let content = '';
-  for (const data of buffer) {
+  for (const data of state.buffer.slice(state.bufferIndex)) {
     content += decoder.write(data);
   }
-  buffer.clear();
+  state.buffer.length = 0;
+  state.bufferIndex = 0;
+
   if (content !== '')
-    buffer.push(content);
-  this._readableState.length = content.length;
+    state.buffer.push(content);
+  state.length = content.length;
   return this;
 };
 
@@ -611,7 +619,7 @@ function howMuchToRead(n, state) {
   if (NumberIsNaN(n)) {
     // Only flow one buffer at a time.
     if ((state[kState] & kFlowing) !== 0 && state.length)
-      return state.buffer.first().length;
+      return state.buffer[state.bufferIndex].length;
     return state.length;
   }
   if (n <= state.length)
@@ -1549,21 +1557,96 @@ function fromList(n, state) {
   if (state.length === 0)
     return null;
 
+  let idx = state.bufferIndex;
   let ret;
-  if (state.objectMode)
-    ret = state.buffer.shift();
-  else if (!n || n >= state.length) {
+
+  const buf = state.buffer;
+  const len = buf.length;
+
+  if ((state[kState] & kObjectMode) !== 0) {
+    ret = buf[idx];
+    buf[idx++] = null;
+  } else if (!n || n >= state.length) {
     // Read it all, truncate the list.
-    if (state.decoder)
-      ret = state.buffer.join('');
-    else if (state.buffer.length === 1)
-      ret = state.buffer.first();
-    else
-      ret = state.buffer.concat(state.length);
-    state.buffer.clear();
+    if ((state[kState] & kDecoder) !== 0) {
+      ret = '';
+      while (idx < len) {
+        ret += buf[idx];
+        buf[idx++] = null;
+      }
+    } else if (len - idx === 0) {
+      ret = Buffer.alloc(0);
+    } else if (len - idx === 1) {
+      ret = buf[idx];
+      buf[idx++] = null;
+    } else {
+      ret = Buffer.allocUnsafe(state.length);
+
+      let i = 0;
+      while (idx < len) {
+        TypedArrayPrototypeSet(ret, buf[idx], i);
+        i += buf[idx].length;
+        buf[idx++] = null;
+      }
+    }
+  } else if (n < buf[idx].length) {
+    // `slice` is the same for buffers and strings.
+    ret = buf[idx].slice(0, n);
+    buf[idx] = buf[idx].slice(n);
+  } else if (n === buf[idx].length) {
+    // First chunk is a perfect match.
+    ret = buf[idx];
+    buf[idx++] = null;
+  } else if ((state[kState] & kDecoder) !== 0) {
+    ret = '';
+    while (idx < len) {
+      const str = buf[idx];
+      if (n > str.length) {
+        ret += str;
+        n -= str.length;
+        buf[idx++] = null;
+      } else {
+        if (n === buf.length) {
+          ret += str;
+          buf[idx++] = null;
+        } else {
+          ret += str.slice(0, n);
+          buf[idx] = str.slice(n);
+        }
+        break;
+      }
+    }
+  } else {
+    ret = Buffer.allocUnsafe(n);
+
+    const retLen = n;
+    while (idx < len) {
+      const data = buf[idx];
+      if (n > data.length) {
+        TypedArrayPrototypeSet(ret, data, retLen - n);
+        n -= data.length;
+        buf[idx++] = null;
+      } else {
+        if (n === data.length) {
+          TypedArrayPrototypeSet(ret, data, retLen - n);
+          buf[idx++] = null;
+        } else {
+          TypedArrayPrototypeSet(ret, new FastBuffer(data.buffer, data.byteOffset, n), retLen - n);
+          buf[idx] = new FastBuffer(data.buffer, data.byteOffset + n, data.length - n);
+        }
+        break;
+      }
+    }
+  }
+
+  if (idx === len) {
+    state.buffer.length = 0;
+    state.bufferIndex = 0;
+  } else if (idx > 1024) {
+    state.buffer.splice(0, idx);
+    state.bufferIndex = 0;
   } else {
-    // read part of list.
-    ret = state.buffer.consume(n, state.decoder);
+    state.bufferIndex = idx;
   }
 
   return ret;
diff --git a/test/parallel/test-bootstrap-modules.js b/test/parallel/test-bootstrap-modules.js
index 78db466a95b38e..e4561d746606ed 100644
--- a/test/parallel/test-bootstrap-modules.js
+++ b/test/parallel/test-bootstrap-modules.js
@@ -107,7 +107,6 @@ if (common.isMainThread) {
     'NativeModule internal/perf/event_loop_utilization',
     'NativeModule internal/process/worker_thread_only',
     'NativeModule internal/streams/add-abort-signal',
-    'NativeModule internal/streams/buffer_list',
     'NativeModule internal/streams/compose',
     'NativeModule internal/streams/destroy',
     'NativeModule internal/streams/duplex',
diff --git a/test/parallel/test-stream-buffer-list.js b/test/parallel/test-stream-buffer-list.js
deleted file mode 100644
index d9d0405f4d5a45..00000000000000
--- a/test/parallel/test-stream-buffer-list.js
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,84 +0,0 @@
-// Flags: --expose-internals
-'use strict';
-require('../common');
-const assert = require('assert');
-const BufferList = require('internal/streams/buffer_list');
-
-// Test empty buffer list.
-const emptyList = new BufferList();
-
-emptyList.shift();
-assert.deepStrictEqual(emptyList, new BufferList());
-
-assert.strictEqual(emptyList.join(','), '');
-
-assert.deepStrictEqual(emptyList.concat(0), Buffer.alloc(0));
-
-const buf = Buffer.from('foo');
-
-function testIterator(list, count) {
-  // test iterator
-  let len = 0;
-  // eslint-disable-next-line no-unused-vars
-  for (const x of list) {
-    len++;
-  }
-  assert.strictEqual(len, count);
-}
-
-// Test buffer list with one element.
-const list = new BufferList();
-testIterator(list, 0);
-
-list.push(buf);
-testIterator(list, 1);
-for (const x of list) {
-  assert.strictEqual(x, buf);
-}
-
-const copy = list.concat(3);
-testIterator(copy, 3);
-
-assert.notStrictEqual(copy, buf);
-assert.deepStrictEqual(copy, buf);
-
-assert.strictEqual(list.join(','), 'foo');
-
-const shifted = list.shift();
-testIterator(list, 0);
-assert.strictEqual(shifted, buf);
-assert.deepStrictEqual(list, new BufferList());
-
-{
-  const list = new BufferList();
-  list.push('foo');
-  list.push('bar');
-  list.push('foo');
-  list.push('bar');
-  assert.strictEqual(list.consume(6, true), 'foobar');
-  assert.strictEqual(list.consume(6, true), 'foobar');
-}
-
-{
-  const list = new BufferList();
-  list.push('foo');
-  list.push('bar');
-  assert.strictEqual(list.consume(5, true), 'fooba');
-}
-
-{
-  const list = new BufferList();
-  list.push(buf);
-  list.push(buf);
-  list.push(buf);
-  list.push(buf);
-  assert.strictEqual(list.consume(6).toString(), 'foofoo');
-  assert.strictEqual(list.consume(6).toString(), 'foofoo');
-}
-
-{
-  const list = new BufferList();
-  list.push(buf);
-  list.push(buf);
-  assert.strictEqual(list.consume(5).toString(), 'foofo');
-}
diff --git a/test/parallel/test-stream2-readable-from-list.js b/test/parallel/test-stream2-readable-from-list.js
deleted file mode 100644
index d5d113304e4925..00000000000000
--- a/test/parallel/test-stream2-readable-from-list.js
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,101 +0,0 @@
-// Copyright Joyent, Inc. and other Node contributors.
-//
-// Permission is hereby granted, free of charge, to any person obtaining a
-// copy of this software and associated documentation files (the
-// "Software"), to deal in the Software without restriction, including
-// without limitation the rights to use, copy, modify, merge, publish,
-// distribute, sublicense, and/or sell copies of the Software, and to permit
-// persons to whom the Software is furnished to do so, subject to the
-// following conditions:
-//
-// The above copyright notice and this permission notice shall be included
-// in all copies or substantial portions of the Software.
-//
-// THE SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED "AS IS", WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS
-// OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO THE WARRANTIES OF
-// MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE AND NONINFRINGEMENT. IN
-// NO EVENT SHALL THE AUTHORS OR COPYRIGHT HOLDERS BE LIABLE FOR ANY CLAIM,
-// DAMAGES OR OTHER LIABILITY, WHETHER IN AN ACTION OF CONTRACT, TORT OR
-// OTHERWISE, ARISING FROM, OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH THE SOFTWARE OR THE
-// USE OR OTHER DEALINGS IN THE SOFTWARE.
-
-// Flags: --expose-internals
-'use strict';
-require('../common');
-const assert = require('assert');
-const fromList = require('stream').Readable._fromList;
-const BufferList = require('internal/streams/buffer_list');
-const util = require('util');
-
-function bufferListFromArray(arr) {
-  const bl = new BufferList();
-  for (let i = 0; i < arr.length; ++i)
-    bl.push(arr[i]);
-  return bl;
-}
-
-{
-  // Verify behavior with buffers
-  let list = [ Buffer.from('foog'),
-               Buffer.from('bark'),
-               Buffer.from('bazy'),
-               Buffer.from('kuel') ];
-  list = bufferListFromArray(list);
-
-  assert.strictEqual(
-    util.inspect([ list ], { compact: false }),
-    `[
-  BufferList {
-    head: [Object],
-    tail: [Object],
-    length: 4
-  }
-]`);
-
-  // Read more than the first element.
-  let ret = fromList(6, { buffer: list, length: 16 });
-  assert.strictEqual(ret.toString(), 'foogba');
-
-  // Read exactly the first element.
-  ret = fromList(2, { buffer: list, length: 10 });
-  assert.strictEqual(ret.toString(), 'rk');
-
-  // Read less than the first element.
-  ret = fromList(2, { buffer: list, length: 8 });
-  assert.strictEqual(ret.toString(), 'ba');
-
-  // Read more than we have.
-  ret = fromList(100, { buffer: list, length: 6 });
-  assert.strictEqual(ret.toString(), 'zykuel');
-
-  // all consumed.
-  assert.deepStrictEqual(list, new BufferList());
-}
-
-{
-  // Verify behavior with strings
-  let list = [ 'foog',
-               'bark',
-               'bazy',
-               'kuel' ];
-  list = bufferListFromArray(list);
-
-  // Read more than the first element.
-  let ret = fromList(6, { buffer: list, length: 16, decoder: true });
-  assert.strictEqual(ret, 'foogba');
-
-  // Read exactly the first element.
-  ret = fromList(2, { buffer: list, length: 10, decoder: true });
-  assert.strictEqual(ret, 'rk');
-
-  // Read less than the first element.
-  ret = fromList(2, { buffer: list, length: 8, decoder: true });
-  assert.strictEqual(ret, 'ba');
-
-  // Read more than we have.
-  ret = fromList(100, { buffer: list, length: 6, decoder: true });
-  assert.strictEqual(ret, 'zykuel');
-
-  // all consumed.
-  assert.deepStrictEqual(list, new BufferList());
-}