diff --git a/backend/interface.go b/backend/interface.go
index 9fff4bf1e..fb0927c6e 100644
--- a/backend/interface.go
+++ b/backend/interface.go
@@ -1,7 +1,5 @@
 package backend
 
-import "io"
-
 // Type is the type of a Blob.
 type Type string
 
@@ -21,10 +19,6 @@ type Backend interface {
 	// repository.
 	Location() string
 
-	// Create creates a new Blob. The data is available only after Finalize()
-	// has been called on the returned Blob.
-	Create() (Blob, error)
-
 	// Test a boolean value whether a Blob with the name and type exists.
 	Test(t Type, name string) (bool, error)
 
@@ -65,14 +59,3 @@ type Deleter interface {
 type BlobInfo struct {
 	Size int64
 }
-
-// Blob is old.
-type Blob interface {
-	io.Writer
-
-	// Finalize moves the data blob to the final location for type and name.
-	Finalize(t Type, name string) error
-
-	// Size returns the number of bytes written to the backend so far.
-	Size() uint
-}
diff --git a/backend/local/backend_test.go b/backend/local/backend_test.go
index 5617ab74a..b2d5e7b0f 100644
--- a/backend/local/backend_test.go
+++ b/backend/local/backend_test.go
@@ -51,13 +51,6 @@ func TestLocalBackendLoad(t *testing.T) {
 	test.TestLoad(t)
 }
 
-func TestLocalBackendWrite(t *testing.T) {
-	if SkipMessage != "" {
-		t.Skip(SkipMessage)
-	}
-	test.TestWrite(t)
-}
-
 func TestLocalBackendSave(t *testing.T) {
 	if SkipMessage != "" {
 		t.Skip(SkipMessage)
diff --git a/backend/local/local.go b/backend/local/local.go
index e45221f91..9a6409a75 100644
--- a/backend/local/local.go
+++ b/backend/local/local.go
@@ -14,8 +14,7 @@ import (
 	"github.com/restic/restic/debug"
 )
 
-var ErrWrongData = errors.New("wrong data returned by backend, checksum does not match")
-
+// Local is a backend in a local directory.
 type Local struct {
 	p    string
 	mu   sync.Mutex
@@ -80,93 +79,6 @@ func (b *Local) Location() string {
 	return b.p
 }
 
-// Return temp directory in correct directory for this backend.
-func (b *Local) tempFile() (*os.File, error) {
-	return ioutil.TempFile(filepath.Join(b.p, backend.Paths.Temp), "temp-")
-}
-
-type localBlob struct {
-	f       *os.File
-	size    uint
-	final   bool
-	basedir string
-}
-
-func (lb *localBlob) Write(p []byte) (int, error) {
-	if lb.final {
-		return 0, errors.New("blob already closed")
-	}
-
-	n, err := lb.f.Write(p)
-	lb.size += uint(n)
-	return n, err
-}
-
-func (lb *localBlob) Size() uint {
-	return lb.size
-}
-
-func (lb *localBlob) Finalize(t backend.Type, name string) error {
-	if lb.final {
-		return errors.New("Already finalized")
-	}
-
-	lb.final = true
-
-	err := lb.f.Close()
-	if err != nil {
-		return fmt.Errorf("local: file.Close: %v", err)
-	}
-
-	f := filename(lb.basedir, t, name)
-
-	// create directories if necessary, ignore errors
-	if t == backend.Data {
-		os.MkdirAll(filepath.Dir(f), backend.Modes.Dir)
-	}
-
-	// test if new path already exists
-	if _, err := os.Stat(f); err == nil {
-		return fmt.Errorf("Close(): file %v already exists", f)
-	}
-
-	if err := os.Rename(lb.f.Name(), f); err != nil {
-		return err
-	}
-
-	// set mode to read-only
-	fi, err := os.Stat(f)
-	if err != nil {
-		return err
-	}
-
-	return setNewFileMode(f, fi)
-}
-
-// Create creates a new Blob. The data is available only after Finalize()
-// has been called on the returned Blob.
-func (b *Local) Create() (backend.Blob, error) {
-	// TODO: make sure that tempfile is removed upon error
-
-	// create tempfile in backend
-	file, err := b.tempFile()
-	if err != nil {
-		return nil, err
-	}
-
-	blob := localBlob{
-		f:       file,
-		basedir: b.p,
-	}
-
-	b.mu.Lock()
-	open, _ := b.open["blobs"]
-	b.open["blobs"] = append(open, file)
-	b.mu.Unlock()
-
-	return &blob, nil
-}
-
 // Construct path for given Type and name.
 func filename(base string, t backend.Type, name string) string {
 	if t == backend.Config {
diff --git a/backend/mem/backend_test.go b/backend/mem/backend_test.go
index 9b1a602a1..31f86e4fc 100644
--- a/backend/mem/backend_test.go
+++ b/backend/mem/backend_test.go
@@ -51,13 +51,6 @@ func TestMemBackendLoad(t *testing.T) {
 	test.TestLoad(t)
 }
 
-func TestMemBackendWrite(t *testing.T) {
-	if SkipMessage != "" {
-		t.Skip(SkipMessage)
-	}
-	test.TestWrite(t)
-}
-
 func TestMemBackendSave(t *testing.T) {
 	if SkipMessage != "" {
 		t.Skip(SkipMessage)
diff --git a/backend/mem/mem_backend.go b/backend/mem/mem_backend.go
index 91831dc5e..4de0afe82 100644
--- a/backend/mem/mem_backend.go
+++ b/backend/mem/mem_backend.go
@@ -37,10 +37,6 @@ func New() *MemoryBackend {
 		return memTest(be, t, name)
 	}
 
-	be.MockBackend.CreateFn = func() (backend.Blob, error) {
-		return memCreate(be)
-	}
-
 	be.MockBackend.LoadFn = func(h backend.Handle, p []byte, off int64) (int, error) {
 		return memLoad(be, h, p, off)
 	}
@@ -127,12 +123,6 @@ func (e *tempMemEntry) Finalize(t backend.Type, name string) error {
 	return e.be.insert(t, name, e.data.Bytes())
 }
 
-func memCreate(be *MemoryBackend) (backend.Blob, error) {
-	blob := &tempMemEntry{be: be}
-	debug.Log("MemoryBackend.Create", "create new blob %p", blob)
-	return blob, nil
-}
-
 func memLoad(be *MemoryBackend, h backend.Handle, p []byte, off int64) (int, error) {
 	if err := h.Valid(); err != nil {
 		return 0, err
@@ -179,6 +169,10 @@ func memSave(be *MemoryBackend, h backend.Handle, p []byte) error {
 		h.Name = ""
 	}
 
+	if _, ok := be.data[entry{h.Type, h.Name}]; ok {
+		return errors.New("file already exists")
+	}
+
 	debug.Log("MemoryBackend.Save", "save %v bytes at %v", len(p), h)
 	buf := make([]byte, len(p))
 	copy(buf, p)
diff --git a/backend/mock_backend.go b/backend/mock_backend.go
index 9e692883f..e685ba556 100644
--- a/backend/mock_backend.go
+++ b/backend/mock_backend.go
@@ -6,7 +6,6 @@ import "errors"
 // should only be used for tests.
 type MockBackend struct {
 	CloseFn    func() error
-	CreateFn   func() (Blob, error)
 	LoadFn     func(h Handle, p []byte, off int64) (int, error)
 	SaveFn     func(h Handle, p []byte) error
 	StatFn     func(h Handle) (BlobInfo, error)
@@ -33,14 +32,6 @@ func (m *MockBackend) Location() string {
 	return m.LocationFn()
 }
 
-func (m *MockBackend) Create() (Blob, error) {
-	if m.CreateFn == nil {
-		return nil, errors.New("not implemented")
-	}
-
-	return m.CreateFn()
-}
-
 func (m *MockBackend) Load(h Handle, p []byte, off int64) (int, error) {
 	if m.LoadFn == nil {
 		return 0, errors.New("not implemented")
diff --git a/backend/s3/backend_test.go b/backend/s3/backend_test.go
index 4bd4d6bee..8db0a31f9 100644
--- a/backend/s3/backend_test.go
+++ b/backend/s3/backend_test.go
@@ -51,13 +51,6 @@ func TestS3BackendLoad(t *testing.T) {
 	test.TestLoad(t)
 }
 
-func TestS3BackendWrite(t *testing.T) {
-	if SkipMessage != "" {
-		t.Skip(SkipMessage)
-	}
-	test.TestWrite(t)
-}
-
 func TestS3BackendSave(t *testing.T) {
 	if SkipMessage != "" {
 		t.Skip(SkipMessage)
diff --git a/backend/s3/s3.go b/backend/s3/s3.go
index 9fd5c6152..a8f69c4c9 100644
--- a/backend/s3/s3.go
+++ b/backend/s3/s3.go
@@ -2,7 +2,6 @@ package s3
 
 import (
 	"bytes"
-	"errors"
 	"io"
 	"strings"
 
@@ -23,6 +22,7 @@ func s3path(t backend.Type, name string) string {
 	return backendPrefix + "/" + string(t) + "/" + name
 }
 
+// S3Backend is a backend which stores the data on an S3 endpoint.
 type S3Backend struct {
 	client     minio.CloudStorageClient
 	connChan   chan struct{}
@@ -68,83 +68,6 @@ func (be *S3Backend) Location() string {
 	return be.bucketname
 }
 
-type s3Blob struct {
-	b     *S3Backend
-	buf   *bytes.Buffer
-	final bool
-}
-
-func (bb *s3Blob) Write(p []byte) (int, error) {
-	if bb.final {
-		return 0, errors.New("blob already closed")
-	}
-
-	n, err := bb.buf.Write(p)
-	return n, err
-}
-
-func (bb *s3Blob) Read(p []byte) (int, error) {
-	return bb.buf.Read(p)
-}
-
-func (bb *s3Blob) Close() error {
-	bb.final = true
-	bb.buf.Reset()
-	return nil
-}
-
-func (bb *s3Blob) Size() uint {
-	return uint(bb.buf.Len())
-}
-
-func (bb *s3Blob) Finalize(t backend.Type, name string) error {
-	debug.Log("s3.blob.Finalize()", "bucket %v, finalize %v, %d bytes", bb.b.bucketname, name, bb.buf.Len())
-	if bb.final {
-		return errors.New("Already finalized")
-	}
-
-	bb.final = true
-
-	path := s3path(t, name)
-
-	// Check key does not already exist
-	_, err := bb.b.client.StatObject(bb.b.bucketname, path)
-	if err == nil {
-		debug.Log("s3.blob.Finalize()", "%v already exists", name)
-		return errors.New("key already exists")
-	}
-
-	expectedBytes := bb.buf.Len()
-
-	<-bb.b.connChan
-	debug.Log("s3.Finalize", "PutObject(%v, %v, %v, %v)",
-		bb.b.bucketname, path, int64(bb.buf.Len()), "binary/octet-stream")
-	n, err := bb.b.client.PutObject(bb.b.bucketname, path, bb.buf, "binary/octet-stream")
-	debug.Log("s3.Finalize", "finalized %v -> n %v, err %#v", path, n, err)
-	bb.b.connChan <- struct{}{}
-
-	if err != nil {
-		return err
-	}
-
-	if n != int64(expectedBytes) {
-		return errors.New("could not store all bytes")
-	}
-
-	return nil
-}
-
-// Create creates a new Blob. The data is available only after Finalize()
-// has been called on the returned Blob.
-func (be *S3Backend) Create() (backend.Blob, error) {
-	blob := s3Blob{
-		b:   be,
-		buf: &bytes.Buffer{},
-	}
-
-	return &blob, nil
-}
-
 // Load returns the data stored in the backend for h at the given offset
 // and saves it in p. Load has the same semantics as io.ReaderAt.
 func (be S3Backend) Load(h backend.Handle, p []byte, off int64) (int, error) {
diff --git a/backend/sftp/backend_test.go b/backend/sftp/backend_test.go
index ca268b3a3..afab17e60 100644
--- a/backend/sftp/backend_test.go
+++ b/backend/sftp/backend_test.go
@@ -51,13 +51,6 @@ func TestSftpBackendLoad(t *testing.T) {
 	test.TestLoad(t)
 }
 
-func TestSftpBackendWrite(t *testing.T) {
-	if SkipMessage != "" {
-		t.Skip(SkipMessage)
-	}
-	test.TestWrite(t)
-}
-
 func TestSftpBackendSave(t *testing.T) {
 	if SkipMessage != "" {
 		t.Skip(SkipMessage)
diff --git a/backend/sftp/sftp.go b/backend/sftp/sftp.go
index a7ad4955e..94cc91132 100644
--- a/backend/sftp/sftp.go
+++ b/backend/sftp/sftp.go
@@ -22,6 +22,7 @@ const (
 	tempfileRandomSuffixLength = 10
 )
 
+// SFTP is a backend in a directory accessed via SFTP.
 type SFTP struct {
 	c *sftp.Client
 	p string
@@ -253,64 +254,7 @@ func (r *SFTP) renameFile(oldname string, t backend.Type, name string) error {
 	return r.c.Chmod(filename, fi.Mode()&os.FileMode(^uint32(0222)))
 }
 
-type sftpBlob struct {
-	f        *sftp.File
-	tempname string
-	size     uint
-	closed   bool
-	backend  *SFTP
-}
-
-func (sb *sftpBlob) Finalize(t backend.Type, name string) error {
-	if sb.closed {
-		return errors.New("Close() called on closed file")
-	}
-	sb.closed = true
-
-	err := sb.f.Close()
-	if err != nil {
-		return fmt.Errorf("sftp: file.Close: %v", err)
-	}
-
-	// rename file
-	err = sb.backend.renameFile(sb.tempname, t, name)
-	if err != nil {
-		return fmt.Errorf("sftp: renameFile: %v", err)
-	}
-
-	return nil
-}
-
-func (sb *sftpBlob) Write(p []byte) (int, error) {
-	n, err := sb.f.Write(p)
-	sb.size += uint(n)
-	return n, err
-}
-
-func (sb *sftpBlob) Size() uint {
-	return sb.size
-}
-
-// Create creates a new Blob. The data is available only after Finalize()
-// has been called on the returned Blob.
-func (r *SFTP) Create() (backend.Blob, error) {
-	// TODO: make sure that tempfile is removed upon error
-
-	// create tempfile in backend
-	filename, file, err := r.tempFile()
-	if err != nil {
-		return nil, errors.Annotate(err, "create tempfile")
-	}
-
-	blob := sftpBlob{
-		f:        file,
-		tempname: filename,
-		backend:  r,
-	}
-
-	return &blob, nil
-}
-
+// Join joins the given paths and cleans them afterwards.
 func Join(parts ...string) string {
 	return filepath.Clean(strings.Join(parts, "/"))
 }
@@ -515,16 +459,16 @@ func (r *SFTP) List(t backend.Type, done <-chan struct{}) <-chan string {
 }
 
 // Close closes the sftp connection and terminates the underlying command.
-func (s *SFTP) Close() error {
-	if s == nil {
+func (r *SFTP) Close() error {
+	if r == nil {
 		return nil
 	}
 
-	s.c.Close()
+	r.c.Close()
 
-	if err := s.cmd.Process.Kill(); err != nil {
+	if err := r.cmd.Process.Kill(); err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
 
-	return s.cmd.Wait()
+	return r.cmd.Wait()
 }
diff --git a/backend/test/backend_test.go b/backend/test/backend_test.go
index e9c19680d..c1bee84c7 100644
--- a/backend/test/backend_test.go
+++ b/backend/test/backend_test.go
@@ -51,13 +51,6 @@ func TestTestBackendLoad(t *testing.T) {
 	test.TestLoad(t)
 }
 
-func TestTestBackendWrite(t *testing.T) {
-	if SkipMessage != "" {
-		t.Skip(SkipMessage)
-	}
-	test.TestWrite(t)
-}
-
 func TestTestBackendSave(t *testing.T) {
 	if SkipMessage != "" {
 		t.Skip(SkipMessage)
diff --git a/backend/test/tests.go b/backend/test/tests.go
index b3557d10d..f1b4b8107 100644
--- a/backend/test/tests.go
+++ b/backend/test/tests.go
@@ -156,19 +156,9 @@ func TestConfig(t testing.TB) {
 		t.Fatalf("did not get expected error for non-existing config")
 	}
 
-	blob, err := b.Create()
+	err = b.Save(backend.Handle{Type: backend.Config}, []byte(testString))
 	if err != nil {
-		t.Fatalf("Create() error: %v", err)
-	}
-
-	_, err = blob.Write([]byte(testString))
-	if err != nil {
-		t.Fatalf("Write() error: %v", err)
-	}
-
-	err = blob.Finalize(backend.Config, "")
-	if err != nil {
-		t.Fatalf("Finalize() error: %v", err)
+		t.Fatalf("Save() error: %v", err)
 	}
 
 	// try accessing the config with different names, should all return the
@@ -205,12 +195,11 @@ func TestLoad(t testing.TB) {
 	data := Random(23, length)
 	id := backend.Hash(data)
 
-	blob, err := b.Create()
-	OK(t, err)
-
-	_, err = blob.Write([]byte(data))
-	OK(t, err)
-	OK(t, blob.Finalize(backend.Data, id.String()))
+	handle := backend.Handle{Type: backend.Data, Name: id.String()}
+	err = b.Save(handle, data)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("Save() error: %v", err)
+	}
 
 	for i := 0; i < 500; i++ {
 		l := rand.Intn(length + 2000)
@@ -229,8 +218,7 @@ func TestLoad(t testing.TB) {
 		}
 
 		buf := make([]byte, l)
-		h := backend.Handle{Type: backend.Data, Name: id.String()}
-		n, err := b.Load(h, buf, int64(o))
+		n, err := b.Load(handle, buf, int64(o))
 
 		// if we requested data beyond the end of the file, ignore
 		// ErrUnexpectedEOF error
@@ -260,63 +248,6 @@ func TestLoad(t testing.TB) {
 	OK(t, b.Remove(backend.Data, id.String()))
 }
 
-// TestWrite tests writing data to the backend.
-func TestWrite(t testing.TB) {
-	b := open(t)
-	defer close(t)
-
-	length := rand.Intn(1<<23) + 2000
-
-	data := Random(23, length)
-	id := backend.Hash(data)
-
-	for i := 0; i < 10; i++ {
-		blob, err := b.Create()
-		OK(t, err)
-
-		o := 0
-		for o < len(data) {
-			l := rand.Intn(len(data) - o)
-			if len(data)-o < 20 {
-				l = len(data) - o
-			}
-
-			n, err := blob.Write(data[o : o+l])
-			OK(t, err)
-			if n != l {
-				t.Fatalf("wrong number of bytes written, want %v, got %v", l, n)
-			}
-
-			o += l
-		}
-
-		name := fmt.Sprintf("%s-%d", id, i)
-		OK(t, blob.Finalize(backend.Data, name))
-
-		buf, err := backend.LoadAll(b, backend.Handle{Type: backend.Data, Name: name}, nil)
-		OK(t, err)
-		if len(buf) != len(data) {
-			t.Fatalf("number of bytes does not match, want %v, got %v", len(data), len(buf))
-		}
-
-		if !bytes.Equal(buf, data) {
-			t.Fatalf("data not equal")
-		}
-
-		fi, err := b.Stat(backend.Handle{Type: backend.Data, Name: name})
-		OK(t, err)
-
-		if fi.Size != int64(len(data)) {
-			t.Fatalf("Stat() returned different size, want %q, got %d", len(data), fi.Size)
-		}
-
-		err = b.Remove(backend.Data, name)
-		if err != nil {
-			t.Fatalf("error removing item: %v", err)
-		}
-	}
-}
-
 // TestSave tests saving data in the backend.
 func TestSave(t testing.TB) {
 	b := open(t)
@@ -415,13 +346,8 @@ var testStrings = []struct {
 
 func store(t testing.TB, b backend.Backend, tpe backend.Type, data []byte) {
 	id := backend.Hash(data)
-
-	blob, err := b.Create()
+	err := b.Save(backend.Handle{Name: id.String(), Type: tpe}, data)
 	OK(t, err)
-
-	_, err = blob.Write([]byte(data))
-	OK(t, err)
-	OK(t, blob.Finalize(tpe, id.String()))
 }
 
 func read(t testing.TB, rd io.Reader, expectedData []byte) {
@@ -492,12 +418,7 @@ func TestBackend(t testing.TB) {
 		test := testStrings[0]
 
 		// create blob
-		blob, err := b.Create()
-		OK(t, err)
-
-		_, err = blob.Write([]byte(test.data))
-		OK(t, err)
-		err = blob.Finalize(tpe, test.id)
+		err := b.Save(backend.Handle{Type: tpe, Name: test.id}, []byte(test.data))
 		Assert(t, err != nil, "expected error, got %v", err)
 
 		// remove and recreate
@@ -510,13 +431,9 @@ func TestBackend(t testing.TB) {
 		Assert(t, ok == false, "removed blob still present")
 
 		// create blob
-		blob, err = b.Create()
+		err = b.Save(backend.Handle{Type: tpe, Name: test.id}, []byte(test.data))
 		OK(t, err)
 
-		_, err = io.Copy(blob, bytes.NewReader([]byte(test.data)))
-		OK(t, err)
-		OK(t, blob.Finalize(tpe, test.id))
-
 		// list items
 		IDs := backend.IDs{}
 
diff --git a/backend/utils_test.go b/backend/utils_test.go
index 426f866de..98a0106ef 100644
--- a/backend/utils_test.go
+++ b/backend/utils_test.go
@@ -20,14 +20,9 @@ func TestLoadAll(t *testing.T) {
 		data := Random(23+i, rand.Intn(MiB)+500*KiB)
 
 		id := backend.Hash(data)
-
-		blob, err := b.Create()
+		err := b.Save(backend.Handle{Name: id.String(), Type: backend.Data}, data)
 		OK(t, err)
 
-		_, err = blob.Write([]byte(data))
-		OK(t, err)
-		OK(t, blob.Finalize(backend.Data, id.String()))
-
 		buf, err := backend.LoadAll(b, backend.Handle{Type: backend.Data, Name: id.String()}, nil)
 		OK(t, err)