diff --git a/backup/Dockerfile b/backup/Dockerfile
index 89b4808..a1eee15 100644
--- a/backup/Dockerfile
+++ b/backup/Dockerfile
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 FROM rackspace/rack:1.1.1
 
 RUN apk add --update --no-cache bash
+RUN apk add --update --no-cache pigz
 
 COPY files/bin/ /usr/bin/
 
diff --git a/backup/files/bin/backup b/backup/files/bin/backup
index 4738560..881c4cf 100755
--- a/backup/files/bin/backup
+++ b/backup/files/bin/backup
@@ -32,7 +32,7 @@ usage () {
   echo "  -h, --help                Show help information"
   echo "  -s, --source <path>       Path to source directory"
   echo "  --stdout                  Use stdout instead of Cloud Files"
-  echo "  -z, --zip                 Use gzip to compress archive"
+  echo "  -z, --zip                 Use pigz to output gzip compressed archive"
   echo "  "
 }
 
@@ -111,7 +111,7 @@ if ! ${STDOUT}; then
 fi
 
 if ${ZIP}; then
-  tar -czf - -C ${SOURCE} . | output_archive
+  tar -cf - -C ${SOURCE} . | pigz -c | output_archive
 else
   tar -cf - -C ${SOURCE} . | output_archive
 fi
diff --git a/backup/files/bin/restore b/backup/files/bin/restore
index 63e2e27..2f1570e 100755
--- a/backup/files/bin/restore
+++ b/backup/files/bin/restore
@@ -22,7 +22,7 @@ usage () {
   echo "  -h, --help                Show help information"
   echo "  -o, --object <name>       Name of archive object in a container"
   echo "  --stdin                   Use stdin instead of Cloud Files"
-  echo "  -z, --zip                 Use gzip to uncompress archive"
+  echo "  -z, --zip                 Use pigz to uncompress gzip archive"
   echo "  "
 }
 
@@ -84,7 +84,7 @@ fi
 
 if ${ZIP}; then
   echo "Reading and unzipping archive..."
-  get_archive | tar -xzf - -C ${DESTINATION}
+  get_archive | unpigz -c | tar -xf - -C ${DESTINATION}
 else
   echo "Reading and extracting archive..."
   get_archive | tar -xf - -C ${DESTINATION}