diff --git a/firewall.go b/firewall.go
index 948dadcc..45eb499d 100644
--- a/firewall.go
+++ b/firewall.go
@@ -437,8 +437,8 @@ func (f *Firewall) Drop(key firewall.PacketKey, fp *firewall.Packet, incoming bo
 
 	// Conntrack miss → rule matching needs the rich Packet form. Hydrate
 	// from the key if the caller passed a zero-valued fp (the inbound path
-	// after ParseInbound). Outbound callers fill fp via newPacket and skip
-	// this hop.
+	// after batch.ParsePacket). Outbound callers Hydrate themselves and
+	// skip this hop.
 	if !fp.LocalAddr.IsValid() {
 		key.Hydrate(fp)
 	}
diff --git a/firewall/packet.go b/firewall/packet.go
index 02f0952d..c2e27128 100644
--- a/firewall/packet.go
+++ b/firewall/packet.go
@@ -50,10 +50,10 @@ type Packet struct {
 	Fragment   bool
 }
 
-// Key derives a PacketKey from a populated Packet. Used by the outgoing
-// path (inside.go) which still parses into a full Packet via newPacket
-// before the firewall check; the inbound path skips this hop entirely by
-// having its parser write straight into the PacketKey.
+// Key derives a PacketKey from a populated Packet. Used by the few code
+// paths that have a Packet but no Key in hand (e.g. tests). Both inbound
+// and outbound production parsers write straight into a PacketKey via
+// batch.ParsePacket, so this function is rarely on the hot path.
 func (fp *Packet) Key() PacketKey {
 	k := PacketKey{
 		Protocol: fp.Protocol,
diff --git a/inside.go b/inside.go
index 3c537fc6..b56570e0 100644
--- a/inside.go
+++ b/inside.go
@@ -25,11 +25,11 @@ func (f *Interface) consumeInsidePacket(pkt tio.Packet, fwPacket *firewall.Packe
 	//
 	// pkt.Bytes is either one IP datagram (GSO zero) or a TSO/USO
 	// superpacket. In both cases the L3+L4 headers at the start describe
-	// the same 5-tuple every segment will share, so a single newPacket /
+	// the same 5-tuple every segment will share, so a single parse +
 	// firewall check covers the whole superpacket.
 	packet := pkt.Bytes
-	key, err := newPacketKey(packet, false)
-	if err != nil {
+	var parsed batch.RxParsed
+	if err := batch.ParsePacket(packet, false, &parsed); err != nil {
 		if f.l.Enabled(context.Background(), slog.LevelDebug) {
 			f.l.Debug("Error while validating outbound packet",
 				"packet", packet,
@@ -39,7 +39,7 @@ func (f *Interface) consumeInsidePacket(pkt tio.Packet, fwPacket *firewall.Packe
 		return
 	}
 
-	key.Hydrate(fwPacket)
+	parsed.Key.Hydrate(fwPacket)
 
 	// Ignore local broadcast packets
 	if f.dropLocalBroadcast {
@@ -107,7 +107,7 @@ func (f *Interface) consumeInsidePacket(pkt tio.Packet, fwPacket *firewall.Packe
 		return
 	}
 
-	dropReason := f.firewall.Drop(key, fwPacket, false, hostinfo, f.pki.GetCAPool(), localCache)
+	dropReason := f.firewall.Drop(parsed.Key, fwPacket, false, hostinfo, f.pki.GetCAPool(), localCache)
 	if dropReason == nil {
 		f.sendInsideMessage(hostinfo, pkt, nb, sendBatch, rejectBuf, q)
 	} else {
@@ -394,16 +394,16 @@ func (f *Interface) getOrHandshakeConsiderRouting(fwPacket *firewall.Packet, cac
 }
 
 func (f *Interface) sendMessageNow(t header.MessageType, st header.MessageSubType, hostinfo *HostInfo, p, nb, out []byte) {
-	key, err := newPacketKey(p, false)
-	if err != nil {
+	var parsed batch.RxParsed
+	if err := batch.ParsePacket(p, false, &parsed); err != nil {
 		f.l.Warn("error while parsing outgoing packet for firewall check", "error", err)
 		return
 	}
 	fp := &firewall.Packet{}
-	key.Hydrate(fp)
+	parsed.Key.Hydrate(fp)
 
 	// check if packet is in outbound fw rules
-	dropReason := f.firewall.Drop(key, fp, false, hostinfo, f.pki.GetCAPool(), nil)
+	dropReason := f.firewall.Drop(parsed.Key, fp, false, hostinfo, f.pki.GetCAPool(), nil)
 	if dropReason != nil {
 		if f.l.Enabled(context.Background(), slog.LevelDebug) {
 			f.l.Debug("dropping cached packet",
diff --git a/outside.go b/outside.go
index 58ddb9bd..725d7e64 100644
--- a/outside.go
+++ b/outside.go
@@ -2,24 +2,15 @@ package nebula
 
 import (
 	"context"
-	"encoding/binary"
 	"errors"
 	"log/slog"
 	"net/netip"
 	"time"
 
-	"github.com/google/gopacket/layers"
-	"golang.org/x/net/ipv6"
-
 	"github.com/slackhq/nebula/firewall"
 	"github.com/slackhq/nebula/header"
 	"github.com/slackhq/nebula/overlay/batch"
 	"github.com/slackhq/nebula/udp"
-	"golang.org/x/net/ipv4"
-)
-
-const (
-	minFwPacketLen = 4
 )
 
 var ErrOutOfWindow = errors.New("out of window packet")
@@ -318,181 +309,11 @@ var (
 // parse logic. Callers that don't need the netip.Addr-rich form (e.g.
 // conntrack-only paths) should use newPacketKey directly.
 func newPacket(data []byte, incoming bool, fp *firewall.Packet) error {
-	key, err := newPacketKey(data, incoming)
-	if err != nil {
+	var parsed batch.RxParsed
+	if err := batch.ParsePacket(data, incoming, &parsed); err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
-	key.Hydrate(fp)
-	return nil
-}
-
-// newPacketKey parses data into a dense firewall.PacketKey. Hot path: no
-// netip.Addr construction, no unique.Handle interning. Caller decides
-// whether to also Hydrate to a Packet (for rule matching) or pass the key
-// straight to conntrack.
-func newPacketKey(data []byte, incoming bool) (firewall.PacketKey, error) {
-	var k firewall.PacketKey
-	if len(data) < 1 {
-		return k, ErrPacketTooShort
-	}
-	switch int((data[0] >> 4) & 0x0f) {
-	case ipv4.Version:
-		return k, parseV4Key(data, incoming, &k)
-	case ipv6.Version:
-		k.IsV6 = true
-		return k, parseV6Key(data, incoming, &k)
-	}
-	return k, ErrUnknownIPVersion
-}
-
-func parseV6Key(data []byte, incoming bool, k *firewall.PacketKey) error {
-	dataLen := len(data)
-	if dataLen < ipv6.HeaderLen {
-		return ErrIPv6PacketTooShort
-	}
-
-	if incoming {
-		copy(k.RemoteAddr[:], data[8:24])
-		copy(k.LocalAddr[:], data[24:40])
-	} else {
-		copy(k.LocalAddr[:], data[8:24])
-		copy(k.RemoteAddr[:], data[24:40])
-	}
-
-	protoAt := 6
-	offset := ipv6.HeaderLen
-	next := 0
-	for {
-		if protoAt >= dataLen {
-			break
-		}
-		proto := layers.IPProtocol(data[protoAt])
-
-		switch proto {
-		case layers.IPProtocolESP, layers.IPProtocolNoNextHeader:
-			k.Protocol = uint8(proto)
-			k.RemotePort = 0
-			k.LocalPort = 0
-			k.Fragment = false
-			return nil
-
-		case layers.IPProtocolICMPv6:
-			if dataLen < offset+6 {
-				return ErrIPv6PacketTooShort
-			}
-			k.Protocol = uint8(proto)
-			k.LocalPort = 0
-			switch data[offset+1] {
-			case layers.ICMPv6TypeEchoRequest, layers.ICMPv6TypeEchoReply:
-				k.RemotePort = binary.BigEndian.Uint16(data[offset+4 : offset+6])
-			default:
-				k.RemotePort = 0
-			}
-			k.Fragment = false
-			return nil
-
-		case layers.IPProtocolTCP, layers.IPProtocolUDP:
-			if dataLen < offset+4 {
-				return ErrIPv6PacketTooShort
-			}
-			k.Protocol = uint8(proto)
-			if incoming {
-				k.RemotePort = binary.BigEndian.Uint16(data[offset : offset+2])
-				k.LocalPort = binary.BigEndian.Uint16(data[offset+2 : offset+4])
-			} else {
-				k.LocalPort = binary.BigEndian.Uint16(data[offset : offset+2])
-				k.RemotePort = binary.BigEndian.Uint16(data[offset+2 : offset+4])
-			}
-			k.Fragment = false
-			return nil
-
-		case layers.IPProtocolIPv6Fragment:
-			if dataLen < offset+8 {
-				return ErrIPv6PacketTooShort
-			}
-			fragmentOffset := binary.BigEndian.Uint16(data[offset+2:offset+4]) &^ uint16(0x7)
-			if fragmentOffset != 0 {
-				k.Protocol = data[offset]
-				k.Fragment = true
-				k.RemotePort = 0
-				k.LocalPort = 0
-				return nil
-			}
-			next = 8
-
-		case layers.IPProtocolAH:
-			if dataLen <= offset+1 {
-				break
-			}
-			next = int(data[offset+1]+2) << 2
-
-		default:
-			if dataLen <= offset+1 {
-				break
-			}
-			next = int(data[offset+1]+1) << 3
-		}
-
-		if next <= 0 {
-			next = 8
-		}
-		protoAt = offset
-		offset = offset + next
-	}
-
-	return ErrIPv6CouldNotFindPayload
-}
-
-func parseV4Key(data []byte, incoming bool, k *firewall.PacketKey) error {
-	if len(data) < ipv4.HeaderLen {
-		return ErrIPv4PacketTooShort
-	}
-	ihl := int(data[0]&0x0f) << 2
-	if ihl < ipv4.HeaderLen {
-		return ErrIPv4InvalidHeaderLength
-	}
-
-	flagsfrags := binary.BigEndian.Uint16(data[6:8])
-	k.Fragment = (flagsfrags & 0x1FFF) != 0
-	k.Protocol = data[9]
-
-	minLen := ihl
-	if !k.Fragment {
-		if k.Protocol == firewall.ProtoICMP {
-			minLen += minFwPacketLen + 2
-		} else {
-			minLen += minFwPacketLen
-		}
-	}
-	if len(data) < minLen {
-		return ErrIPv4InvalidHeaderLength
-	}
-
-	// Dense form: v4 in low 4 bytes, rest zero. Matches the coalescer's
-	// flowKey convention so the two stay byte-identical for the same flow.
-	if incoming {
-		copy(k.RemoteAddr[:4], data[12:16])
-		copy(k.LocalAddr[:4], data[16:20])
-	} else {
-		copy(k.LocalAddr[:4], data[12:16])
-		copy(k.RemoteAddr[:4], data[16:20])
-	}
-
-	switch {
-	case k.Fragment:
-		k.RemotePort = 0
-		k.LocalPort = 0
-	case k.Protocol == firewall.ProtoICMP:
-		k.RemotePort = binary.BigEndian.Uint16(data[ihl+4 : ihl+6])
-		k.LocalPort = 0
-	case incoming:
-		k.RemotePort = binary.BigEndian.Uint16(data[ihl : ihl+2])
-		k.LocalPort = binary.BigEndian.Uint16(data[ihl+2 : ihl+4])
-	default:
-		k.LocalPort = binary.BigEndian.Uint16(data[ihl : ihl+2])
-		k.RemotePort = binary.BigEndian.Uint16(data[ihl+2 : ihl+4])
-	}
-
+	parsed.Key.Hydrate(fp)
 	return nil
 }
 
@@ -571,7 +392,7 @@ func (f *Interface) handleOutsideMessagePacket(hostinfo *HostInfo, out []byte, p
 	// firewall.Drop's fast path uses Key alone and only hydrates fwPacket
 	// from Key on the slow path.
 	*fwPacket = firewall.Packet{}
-	err := batch.ParseInbound(out, parsedRx)
+	err := batch.ParsePacket(out, true, parsedRx)
 	if err != nil {
 		hostinfo.logger(f.l).Warn("Error while validating inbound packet",
 			"error", err,
diff --git a/outside_test.go b/outside_test.go
index 49eeec39..22ccf0c0 100644
--- a/outside_test.go
+++ b/outside_test.go
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@ import (
 	"github.com/google/gopacket/layers"
 
 	"github.com/slackhq/nebula/firewall"
+	"github.com/slackhq/nebula/overlay/batch"
 	"github.com/stretchr/testify/assert"
 	"github.com/stretchr/testify/require"
 	"golang.org/x/net/ipv4"
@@ -21,13 +22,13 @@ func Test_newPacket(t *testing.T) {
 
 	// length fails
 	err := newPacket([]byte{}, true, p)
-	require.ErrorIs(t, err, ErrPacketTooShort)
+	require.ErrorIs(t, err, batch.ErrPacketTooShort)
 
 	err = newPacket([]byte{0x40}, true, p)
-	require.ErrorIs(t, err, ErrIPv4PacketTooShort)
+	require.ErrorIs(t, err, batch.ErrIPv4PacketTooShort)
 
 	err = newPacket([]byte{0x60}, true, p)
-	require.ErrorIs(t, err, ErrIPv6PacketTooShort)
+	require.ErrorIs(t, err, batch.ErrIPv6PacketTooShort)
 
 	// length fail with ip options
 	h := ipv4.Header{
@@ -40,15 +41,15 @@ func Test_newPacket(t *testing.T) {
 
 	b, _ := h.Marshal()
 	err = newPacket(b, true, p)
-	require.ErrorIs(t, err, ErrIPv4InvalidHeaderLength)
+	require.ErrorIs(t, err, batch.ErrIPv4InvalidHeaderLength)
 
 	// not an ipv4 packet
 	err = newPacket([]byte{0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0}, true, p)
-	require.ErrorIs(t, err, ErrUnknownIPVersion)
+	require.ErrorIs(t, err, batch.ErrUnknownIPVersion)
 
 	// invalid ihl
 	err = newPacket([]byte{4<<4 | (8 >> 2 & 0x0f), 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0}, true, p)
-	require.ErrorIs(t, err, ErrIPv4InvalidHeaderLength)
+	require.ErrorIs(t, err, batch.ErrIPv4InvalidHeaderLength)
 
 	// account for variable ip header length - incoming
 	h = ipv4.Header{
@@ -115,7 +116,7 @@ func Test_newPacket_v6(t *testing.T) {
 	require.NoError(t, err)
 
 	err = newPacket(buffer.Bytes(), true, p)
-	require.ErrorIs(t, err, ErrIPv6CouldNotFindPayload)
+	require.ErrorIs(t, err, batch.ErrIPv6CouldNotFindPayload)
 
 	// A v6 packet with a hop-by-hop extension
 	// ICMPv6 Payload (Echo Request)
@@ -149,12 +150,12 @@ func Test_newPacket_v6(t *testing.T) {
 	// A full IPv6 header and 1 byte in the first extension, but missing
 	// the length byte.
 	err = newPacket(buffer.Bytes()[:41], true, p)
-	require.ErrorIs(t, err, ErrIPv6CouldNotFindPayload)
+	require.ErrorIs(t, err, batch.ErrIPv6CouldNotFindPayload)
 
 	// A full IPv6 header plus 1 full extension, but only 1 byte of the
 	// next layer, missing length byte
 	err = newPacket(buffer.Bytes()[:49], true, p)
-	require.ErrorIs(t, err, ErrIPv6CouldNotFindPayload)
+	require.ErrorIs(t, err, batch.ErrIPv6CouldNotFindPayload)
 	err = nil
 
 	// A good ICMP packet
@@ -217,7 +218,7 @@ func Test_newPacket_v6(t *testing.T) {
 	b = buffer.Bytes()
 	b[6] = 255 // 255 is a reserved protocol number
 	err = newPacket(b, true, p)
-	require.ErrorIs(t, err, ErrIPv6CouldNotFindPayload)
+	require.ErrorIs(t, err, batch.ErrIPv6CouldNotFindPayload)
 
 	// A good UDP packet
 	ip = layers.IPv6{
@@ -264,7 +265,7 @@ func Test_newPacket_v6(t *testing.T) {
 
 	// Too short UDP packet
 	err = newPacket(b[:len(b)-10], false, p) // pull off the last 10 bytes
-	require.ErrorIs(t, err, ErrIPv6PacketTooShort)
+	require.ErrorIs(t, err, batch.ErrIPv6PacketTooShort)
 
 	// A good TCP packet
 	b[6] = byte(layers.IPProtocolTCP)
@@ -291,7 +292,7 @@ func Test_newPacket_v6(t *testing.T) {
 
 	// Too short TCP packet
 	err = newPacket(b[:len(b)-10], false, p) // pull off the last 10 bytes
-	require.ErrorIs(t, err, ErrIPv6PacketTooShort)
+	require.ErrorIs(t, err, batch.ErrIPv6PacketTooShort)
 
 	// A good UDP packet with an AH header
 	ip = layers.IPv6{
@@ -336,12 +337,12 @@ func Test_newPacket_v6(t *testing.T) {
 
 	// Ensure buffer bounds checking during processing
 	err = newPacket(b[:41], true, p)
-	require.ErrorIs(t, err, ErrIPv6PacketTooShort)
+	require.ErrorIs(t, err, batch.ErrIPv6PacketTooShort)
 
 	// Invalid AH header
 	b = buffer.Bytes()
 	err = newPacket(b, true, p)
-	require.ErrorIs(t, err, ErrIPv6CouldNotFindPayload)
+	require.ErrorIs(t, err, batch.ErrIPv6CouldNotFindPayload)
 }
 
 func Test_newPacket_ipv6Fragment(t *testing.T) {
@@ -448,7 +449,7 @@ func Test_newPacket_ipv6Fragment(t *testing.T) {
 
 	// Too short of a fragment packet
 	err = newPacket(secondFrag[:len(secondFrag)-10], false, p)
-	require.ErrorIs(t, err, ErrIPv6PacketTooShort)
+	require.ErrorIs(t, err, batch.ErrIPv6PacketTooShort)
 }
 
 func BenchmarkParseV6(b *testing.B) {
diff --git a/overlay/batch/batch.go b/overlay/batch/batch.go
index ac7102c0..57d94b25 100644
--- a/overlay/batch/batch.go
+++ b/overlay/batch/batch.go
@@ -7,9 +7,9 @@ type RxBatcher interface {
 	Reserve(sz int) []byte
 	// Commit borrows pkt. The caller must keep pkt valid until the next Flush.
 	// Walks IP+L4 headers itself; prefer CommitInbound when the caller already
-	// has an RxParsed in hand from ParseInbound.
+	// has an RxParsed in hand from ParsePacket.
 	Commit(pkt []byte) error
-	// CommitInbound is Commit with a hint produced by ParseInbound, so the
+	// CommitInbound is Commit with a hint produced by ParsePacket, so the
 	// batcher can skip the IP+L4 re-parse. Borrowed slice contract is the
 	// same as Commit. Implementations that don't coalesce may delegate to
 	// Commit.
diff --git a/overlay/batch/inbound.go b/overlay/batch/inbound.go
index 67a528fa..6771f478 100644
--- a/overlay/batch/inbound.go
+++ b/overlay/batch/inbound.go
@@ -22,16 +22,16 @@ const (
 	icmpv6TypeEchoReply   = 129
 )
 
-// Inbound parse errors. Match outside.go's sentinel set so the unified
-// parser can drop in as a replacement for newPacket without callers
-// noticing a behavior change.
+// Packet parse errors — the canonical sentinel set for IP+L4 parsing.
+// Both inbound and outbound callers share this surface, so any code path
+// that ends up at firewall.PacketKey reports drops with the same errors.
 var (
-	ErrInboundPacketTooShort    = errors.New("packet is too short")
-	ErrInboundUnknownIPVersion  = errors.New("packet is an unknown ip version")
-	ErrInboundIPv4InvalidHdrLen = errors.New("invalid ipv4 header length")
-	ErrInboundIPv4TooShort      = errors.New("ipv4 packet is too short")
-	ErrInboundIPv6TooShort      = errors.New("ipv6 packet is too short")
-	ErrInboundIPv6NoPayload     = errors.New("could not find payload in ipv6 packet")
+	ErrPacketTooShort          = errors.New("packet is too short")
+	ErrUnknownIPVersion        = errors.New("packet is an unknown ip version")
+	ErrIPv4InvalidHeaderLength = errors.New("invalid ipv4 header length")
+	ErrIPv4PacketTooShort      = errors.New("ipv4 packet is too short")
+	ErrIPv6PacketTooShort      = errors.New("ipv6 packet is too short")
+	ErrIPv6CouldNotFindPayload = errors.New("could not find payload in ipv6 packet")
 )
 
 // RxKind discriminates how an inbound plaintext packet should be committed
@@ -61,19 +61,27 @@ type RxParsed struct {
 	udp  parsedUDP
 }
 
-// ParseInbound walks an inbound plaintext packet once and fills:
-//   - parsed.Key with the dense, Local/Remote-oriented conntrack key the
-//     firewall uses (replaces the netip.Addr-rich path through newPacket).
-//   - parsed.{tcp,udp} with the coalescer hint, when the shape is
-//     coalesce-eligible.
+// ParsePacket walks an IP packet once and fills parsed.Key. When incoming
+// is true and the L4 shape is coalesce-eligible, also fills parsed.tcp /
+// parsed.udp so CommitInbound can dispatch into the coalescer without
+// re-walking the headers.
 //
-// Eligibility rules match the coalescer's own parseTCPBase/parseUDP:
+// Direction selects the Key orientation:
+//
+//	incoming=true  → wire src → Key.RemoteAddr/Port, wire dst → Key.LocalAddr/Port
+//	incoming=false → wire src → Key.LocalAddr/Port,  wire dst → Key.RemoteAddr/Port
+//
+// ICMP always lands the identifier in Key.RemotePort, regardless of direction.
+//
+// Eligibility rules for the coalescer hint match the coalescer's own
+// parseTCPBase/parseUDP:
 //   - IPv4 strict: IHL == 20, no fragmentation (MF or offset), proto TCP/UDP.
 //   - IPv6 strict: NextHeader is directly TCP or UDP (no extension headers).
 //
-// Returns the same set of errors newPacket returns for malformed input —
-// callers can treat those as drop.
-func ParseInbound(pkt []byte, parsed *RxParsed) error {
+// The hint is only filled for incoming packets, since the outbound path
+// does not feed an inbound coalescer. Outbound callers see Kind stay at
+// RxKindPassthrough and parsed.tcp/udp stay zero.
+func ParsePacket(pkt []byte, incoming bool, parsed *RxParsed) error {
 	parsed.Kind = RxKindPassthrough
 	// Reset Key in full: v4 only writes the low 4 bytes of each address
 	// field, so without this a v6 call followed by a v4 reusing the same
@@ -81,26 +89,27 @@ func ParseInbound(pkt []byte, parsed *RxParsed) error {
 	// map equality for v4 flows.
 	parsed.Key = firewall.PacketKey{}
 	if len(pkt) < 1 {
-		return ErrInboundPacketTooShort
+		return ErrPacketTooShort
 	}
 	switch pkt[0] >> 4 {
 	case 4:
-		return parseInboundV4(pkt, parsed)
+		return parsePacketV4(pkt, incoming, parsed)
 	case 6:
-		return parseInboundV6(pkt, parsed)
+		return parsePacketV6(pkt, incoming, parsed)
 	}
-	return ErrInboundUnknownIPVersion
+	return ErrUnknownIPVersion
 }
 
-// parseInboundV4 mirrors parseV4(incoming=true) for the firewall side and
-// also fills the coalescer hint when the shape is strict.
-func parseInboundV4(pkt []byte, parsed *RxParsed) error {
+// parsePacketV4 fills parsed.Key from an IPv4 packet. Direction selects
+// Local/Remote orientation. When incoming and the shape is strict, also
+// fills the coalescer hint.
+func parsePacketV4(pkt []byte, incoming bool, parsed *RxParsed) error {
 	if len(pkt) < 20 {
-		return ErrInboundIPv4TooShort
+		return ErrIPv4PacketTooShort
 	}
 	ihl := int(pkt[0]&0x0f) << 2
 	if ihl < 20 {
-		return ErrInboundIPv4InvalidHdrLen
+		return ErrIPv4InvalidHeaderLength
 	}
 	flagsfrags := binary.BigEndian.Uint16(pkt[6:8])
 	parsed.Key.Fragment = (flagsfrags & 0x1FFF) != 0
@@ -118,12 +127,16 @@ func parseInboundV4(pkt []byte, parsed *RxParsed) error {
 		}
 	}
 	if len(pkt) < minLen {
-		return ErrInboundIPv4InvalidHdrLen
+		return ErrIPv4InvalidHeaderLength
 	}
 
-	// Inbound orientation: wire src → Remote, wire dst → Local.
-	copy(parsed.Key.RemoteAddr[:4], pkt[12:16])
-	copy(parsed.Key.LocalAddr[:4], pkt[16:20])
+	if incoming {
+		copy(parsed.Key.RemoteAddr[:4], pkt[12:16])
+		copy(parsed.Key.LocalAddr[:4], pkt[16:20])
+	} else {
+		copy(parsed.Key.LocalAddr[:4], pkt[12:16])
+		copy(parsed.Key.RemoteAddr[:4], pkt[16:20])
+	}
 
 	switch {
 	case parsed.Key.Fragment:
@@ -132,11 +145,18 @@ func parseInboundV4(pkt []byte, parsed *RxParsed) error {
 	case parsed.Key.Protocol == firewall.ProtoICMP:
 		parsed.Key.RemotePort = binary.BigEndian.Uint16(pkt[ihl+4 : ihl+6])
 		parsed.Key.LocalPort = 0
-	default:
+	case incoming:
 		parsed.Key.RemotePort = binary.BigEndian.Uint16(pkt[ihl : ihl+2])
 		parsed.Key.LocalPort = binary.BigEndian.Uint16(pkt[ihl+2 : ihl+4])
+	default:
+		parsed.Key.LocalPort = binary.BigEndian.Uint16(pkt[ihl : ihl+2])
+		parsed.Key.RemotePort = binary.BigEndian.Uint16(pkt[ihl+2 : ihl+4])
 	}
 
+	// Coalescer hint is inbound-only: no inbound coalescer fires on outgoing.
+	if !incoming {
+		return nil
+	}
 	// Coalescer-eligible? Strict shape: IHL==20, no MF/offset, TCP or UDP.
 	if ihl != 20 || (flagsfrags&0x3FFF) != 0 {
 		return nil
@@ -208,28 +228,43 @@ func fillParsedUDPv4(pkt []byte, parsed *RxParsed) {
 	parsed.Kind = RxKindUDP
 }
 
-// parseInboundV6 mirrors parseV6(incoming=true). The coalescer-eligible
-// fast path triggers only when NextHeader is directly TCP or UDP — any
-// extension header chain falls into the lenient walk below.
-func parseInboundV6(pkt []byte, parsed *RxParsed) error {
+// parsePacketV6 fills parsed.Key from an IPv6 packet. Direction selects
+// Local/Remote orientation. The coalescer hint fast path only triggers
+// when NextHeader is directly TCP or UDP — any extension header chain
+// falls into the lenient walk below, and the hint stays unfilled.
+func parsePacketV6(pkt []byte, incoming bool, parsed *RxParsed) error {
 	if len(pkt) < 40 {
-		return ErrInboundIPv6TooShort
+		return ErrIPv6PacketTooShort
 	}
 	parsed.Key.IsV6 = true
-	copy(parsed.Key.RemoteAddr[:], pkt[8:24])
-	copy(parsed.Key.LocalAddr[:], pkt[24:40])
+	if incoming {
+		copy(parsed.Key.RemoteAddr[:], pkt[8:24])
+		copy(parsed.Key.LocalAddr[:], pkt[24:40])
+	} else {
+		copy(parsed.Key.LocalAddr[:], pkt[8:24])
+		copy(parsed.Key.RemoteAddr[:], pkt[24:40])
+	}
 
 	if proto := pkt[6]; proto == ipProtoTCP || proto == ipProtoUDP {
 		// Strict v6: ports are at the IP header end. Always fill key; only
 		// fill the coalescer hint if the L4 shape passes.
 		if len(pkt) < 44 {
-			return ErrInboundIPv6TooShort
+			return ErrIPv6PacketTooShort
 		}
 		parsed.Key.Protocol = proto
 		parsed.Key.Fragment = false
-		parsed.Key.RemotePort = binary.BigEndian.Uint16(pkt[40:42])
-		parsed.Key.LocalPort = binary.BigEndian.Uint16(pkt[42:44])
+		if incoming {
+			parsed.Key.RemotePort = binary.BigEndian.Uint16(pkt[40:42])
+			parsed.Key.LocalPort = binary.BigEndian.Uint16(pkt[42:44])
+		} else {
+			parsed.Key.LocalPort = binary.BigEndian.Uint16(pkt[40:42])
+			parsed.Key.RemotePort = binary.BigEndian.Uint16(pkt[42:44])
+		}
 
+		// Coalescer hint is inbound-only.
+		if !incoming {
+			return nil
+		}
 		payloadLen := int(binary.BigEndian.Uint16(pkt[4:6]))
 		if 40+payloadLen > len(pkt) {
 			return nil
@@ -245,8 +280,9 @@ func parseInboundV6(pkt []byte, parsed *RxParsed) error {
 		return nil
 	}
 
-	// Slow path: walk extension header chain just like parseV6 does.
-	return walkInboundV6Headers(pkt, parsed)
+	// Slow path: walk extension header chain. Coalescer hint never fires
+	// here, so direction only matters for L4 port orientation.
+	return walkV6Headers(pkt, incoming, parsed)
 }
 
 func fillParsedTCPv6(pkt []byte, parsed *RxParsed) {
@@ -295,12 +331,13 @@ func fillParsedUDPv6(pkt []byte, parsed *RxParsed) {
 	parsed.Kind = RxKindUDP
 }
 
-// walkInboundV6Headers handles every IPv6 case parseV6 handles that isn't
-// the strict "NextHeader == TCP/UDP" fast path: ESP, NoNextHeader, ICMPv6,
-// fragment headers (first vs later), AH, generic extension headers.
-// Coalescer eligibility is always RxKindPassthrough on this path (parsed
-// already initialised that way).
-func walkInboundV6Headers(pkt []byte, parsed *RxParsed) error {
+// walkV6Headers handles every IPv6 case the strict "NextHeader == TCP/UDP"
+// fast path doesn't: ESP, NoNextHeader, ICMPv6, fragment headers (first vs
+// later), AH, generic extension headers. Coalescer eligibility is always
+// RxKindPassthrough on this path (parsed already initialised that way).
+// Direction matters only for the L4 port orientation when the chain
+// terminates at TCP/UDP.
+func walkV6Headers(pkt []byte, incoming bool, parsed *RxParsed) error {
 	dataLen := len(pkt)
 	protoAt := 6
 	offset := 40
@@ -320,7 +357,7 @@ func walkInboundV6Headers(pkt []byte, parsed *RxParsed) error {
 
 		case ipProtoICMPv6:
 			if dataLen < offset+6 {
-				return ErrInboundIPv6TooShort
+				return ErrIPv6PacketTooShort
 			}
 			parsed.Key.Protocol = proto
 			parsed.Key.LocalPort = 0
@@ -338,17 +375,22 @@ func walkInboundV6Headers(pkt []byte, parsed *RxParsed) error {
 			// strict-eligible fast path above already handled the no-extension
 			// case; here we only fill firewall ports and stay passthrough.
 			if dataLen < offset+4 {
-				return ErrInboundIPv6TooShort
+				return ErrIPv6PacketTooShort
 			}
 			parsed.Key.Protocol = proto
-			parsed.Key.RemotePort = binary.BigEndian.Uint16(pkt[offset : offset+2])
-			parsed.Key.LocalPort = binary.BigEndian.Uint16(pkt[offset+2 : offset+4])
+			if incoming {
+				parsed.Key.RemotePort = binary.BigEndian.Uint16(pkt[offset : offset+2])
+				parsed.Key.LocalPort = binary.BigEndian.Uint16(pkt[offset+2 : offset+4])
+			} else {
+				parsed.Key.LocalPort = binary.BigEndian.Uint16(pkt[offset : offset+2])
+				parsed.Key.RemotePort = binary.BigEndian.Uint16(pkt[offset+2 : offset+4])
+			}
 			parsed.Key.Fragment = false
 			return nil
 
 		case ipProtoIPv6Fragment:
 			if dataLen < offset+8 {
-				return ErrInboundIPv6TooShort
+				return ErrIPv6PacketTooShort
 			}
 			fragmentOffset := binary.BigEndian.Uint16(pkt[offset+2:offset+4]) &^ uint16(0x7)
 			if fragmentOffset != 0 {
@@ -380,7 +422,7 @@ func walkInboundV6Headers(pkt []byte, parsed *RxParsed) error {
 		protoAt = offset
 		offset = offset + next
 	}
-	return ErrInboundIPv6NoPayload
+	return ErrIPv6CouldNotFindPayload
 }
 
 // CommitInbound dispatches pkt to the appropriate lane using parsed.Kind,
diff --git a/overlay/batch/inbound_bench_test.go b/overlay/batch/inbound_bench_test.go
index dbbd479d..eaf263d8 100644
--- a/overlay/batch/inbound_bench_test.go
+++ b/overlay/batch/inbound_bench_test.go
@@ -176,7 +176,7 @@ func runRxUnified(b *testing.B, pkts [][]byte, batchSize int) {
 	b.ResetTimer()
 	for i := 0; i < b.N; i++ {
 		pkt := pkts[i%len(pkts)]
-		if err := ParseInbound(pkt, &parsed); err != nil {
+		if err := ParsePacket(pkt, true, &parsed); err != nil {
 			b.Fatal(err)
 		}
 		if err := m.CommitInbound(pkt, &parsed); err != nil {
@@ -344,7 +344,7 @@ func runRxUnifiedWithCache(b *testing.B, pkts [][]byte, batchSize int) {
 	cache := make(firewall.ConntrackCache, len(pkts))
 	for _, pkt := range pkts {
 		var seed RxParsed
-		if err := ParseInbound(pkt, &seed); err != nil {
+		if err := ParsePacket(pkt, true, &seed); err != nil {
 			b.Fatal(err)
 		}
 		cache[seed.Key] = struct{}{}
@@ -355,7 +355,7 @@ func runRxUnifiedWithCache(b *testing.B, pkts [][]byte, batchSize int) {
 	b.ResetTimer()
 	for i := 0; i < b.N; i++ {
 		pkt := pkts[i%len(pkts)]
-		if err := ParseInbound(pkt, &parsed); err != nil {
+		if err := ParsePacket(pkt, true, &parsed); err != nil {
 			b.Fatal(err)
 		}
 		if _, ok := cache[parsed.Key]; !ok {
diff --git a/overlay/batch/inbound_test.go b/overlay/batch/inbound_test.go
index a918a4e4..3ecb2e60 100644
--- a/overlay/batch/inbound_test.go
+++ b/overlay/batch/inbound_test.go
@@ -32,8 +32,8 @@ func TestParseInboundParity(t *testing.T) {
 			var fpUnified, fpBaseline firewall.Packet
 			var parsed RxParsed
 
-			if err := ParseInbound(tc.pkt, &parsed); err != nil {
-				t.Fatalf("ParseInbound: %v", err)
+			if err := ParsePacket(tc.pkt, true, &parsed); err != nil {
+				t.Fatalf("ParsePacket: %v", err)
 			}
 			parsed.Key.Hydrate(&fpUnified)
 			var ok bool
@@ -61,7 +61,7 @@ func TestParseInboundFlowKey(t *testing.T) {
 	t.Run("tcp_v4", func(t *testing.T) {
 		pkt := buildTCPv4Ports(1234, 443, 5000, tcpAck, make([]byte, 800))
 		var parsed RxParsed
-		if err := ParseInbound(pkt, &parsed); err != nil {
+		if err := ParsePacket(pkt, true, &parsed); err != nil {
 			t.Fatal(err)
 		}
 		if parsed.Kind != RxKindTCP {
@@ -79,7 +79,7 @@ func TestParseInboundFlowKey(t *testing.T) {
 	t.Run("udp_v4", func(t *testing.T) {
 		pkt := buildUDPv4(40000, 53, []byte("dnsquery"))
 		var parsed RxParsed
-		if err := ParseInbound(pkt, &parsed); err != nil {
+		if err := ParsePacket(pkt, true, &parsed); err != nil {
 			t.Fatal(err)
 		}
 		if parsed.Kind != RxKindUDP {
@@ -97,7 +97,7 @@ func TestParseInboundFlowKey(t *testing.T) {
 	t.Run("tcp_v6", func(t *testing.T) {
 		pkt := buildTCPv6(0, 9000, tcpAck, make([]byte, 800))
 		var parsed RxParsed
-		if err := ParseInbound(pkt, &parsed); err != nil {
+		if err := ParsePacket(pkt, true, &parsed); err != nil {
 			t.Fatal(err)
 		}
 		if parsed.Kind != RxKindTCP {
@@ -126,7 +126,7 @@ func TestParseInboundICMPPassthrough(t *testing.T) {
 	pkt[25] = 0xcd
 
 	var parsed RxParsed
-	if err := ParseInbound(pkt, &parsed); err != nil {
+	if err := ParsePacket(pkt, true, &parsed); err != nil {
 		t.Fatal(err)
 	}
 	if parsed.Kind != RxKindPassthrough {
@@ -162,7 +162,7 @@ func TestParseInboundV4Fragment(t *testing.T) {
 	pkt[7] = 0x10 // offset = 16 (in 8-byte units)
 
 	var parsed RxParsed
-	if err := ParseInbound(pkt, &parsed); err != nil {
+	if err := ParsePacket(pkt, true, &parsed); err != nil {
 		t.Fatal(err)
 	}
 	if !parsed.Key.Fragment {