Bread & Butter Loco vs Filth: Which Paddle Should You Buy?
Edited by DanPublished Updated How we research
Bread & Butter’s two main paddle lines look similar on paper: both are 16 mm thick, both come in Standard, Hybrid and Elongated shapes, and both use a raw T700 carbon face. The difference is inside. The Loco has a dual-density foam core, while the Filth is a thermoformed paddle with a high-density polypropylene core. This guide compares them using Bread & Butter’s published specifications, our spec-based rating scale and the buyer ratings on Bread & Butter’s own site. We haven’t play-tested these paddles.
Quick Answer
- Choose the Loco if you want more power and pop. Its foam core gives it the higher power rating in every shape.
- Choose the Filth if you want more control and spin. It rates higher for control in every shape, and as high or higher for spin. It is also Bread & Butter’s best-selling paddle line.
All Six Paddles Side by Side
The Core: Foam vs Honeycomb
- Loco: a 16 mm dual-density foam core made of EPP and EVA foam. Bread & Butter describes it as plush and controlled, with just the right amount of pop.
- Filth: a 16 mm high-density polypropylene core with Bread & Butter’s patented thermoformed construction. Bread & Butter says the Filth family balances durability, touch and power.
On our scale, an all-foam core earns the biggest power bonus, while thermoformed construction earns smaller power and sweet-spot bonuses. That is why the Loco out-rates the Filth for power in every shape. Read foam core vs honeycomb and thermoformed paddles explained for the background.
The Face: Carbon with Fiberglass, or Carbon Only
Both lines use raw T700 carbon fiber, but the Loco adds a layer of fiberglass under it, which Bread & Butter says adds pop. On our scale, a carbon-only face earns more control and spin points than a carbon-fiberglass blend, which is why the Filth rates higher for control in every shape, and at least as high for spin.
Research Ratings by Shape
- Standard (16.0 x 8.0 in): Loco 9.1 (power 9.0, control 9.0, spin 8.5) vs Filth 9.0 (power 8.0, control 9.5, spin 8.5). Both rate 10 for sweet spot.
- Hybrid (16.2 x 7.6 in): Loco 8.9 (power 9.5, control 8.5, spin 9.0) vs Filth 9.0 (power 8.5, control 9.0, spin 9.0).
- Elongated (16.5 x 7.375 in): Loco 8.9 (power 10, control 8.5, spin 9.0) vs Filth 8.9 (power 8.5, control 9.0, spin 9.5).
The overall scores are almost identical. The real choice is between the Loco’s power and the Filth’s control and spin.
Swing Weight, Twist Weight and Weight
- Standard: Loco swing weight 108–110, twist weight 7.3, 8.0–8.1 oz; Filth 109–112, 7.40, 8.1–8.2 oz.
- Hybrid: Loco 112–115, 6.65, 7.9–8.1 oz; Filth 112, 6.75, 8.0–8.1 oz.
- Elongated: Loco 118–120, 6.28, 8.0–8.2 oz; Filth 121, 6.20, 7.6–8.0 oz.
The two lines swing and twist almost identically shape for shape. The Filth Elongated is the lightest paddle in the range by static weight but has the highest swing weight. See swing weight vs twist weight for what these numbers mean.
What Buyers Say
Both lines average 4.7 to 4.8 out of 5 on Bread & Butter’s site. The Loco Hybrid has the most ratings of any Bread & Butter paddle we review (2,986), and the original elongated Filth has 2,442. In the reviews we read, Loco buyers mention power most often, while Filth Standard and Hybrid buyers mention control most often. Low ratings for both lines are mostly about shipping, missing paddle covers or cosmetic flaws on arrival rather than how the paddles play.
Price, Returns and Warranty
Check the table above for current prices. Bread & Butter offers U.S. customers a 30-day “Love it or Return it” policy and a one-year warranty on paddles bought from its website, but it sometimes excludes sale paddles from the return policy, so check the product page before you buy.
Which Should You Choose?
- You want power with quick hands: Loco Standard, the highest-scoring Bread & Butter paddle we review (9.1).
- You want an all-court foam paddle: Loco Hybrid.
- You want maximum reach and power: Loco Elongated.
- You win with placement and touch: Filth Standard, with the highest control rating (9.5) and twist weight (7.40) in the range.
- You want balance and spin: Filth Hybrid.
- You want reach and the most spin: Filth Elongated.
Bread & Butter also makes the 14 mm Psycho, a thermoformed standard-shape paddle sold as final sale with no warranty. See every paddle on the Bread & Butter brand page.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between the Bread & Butter Loco and Filth?
The Loco has a 16 mm dual-density EPP and EVA foam core and a raw T700 carbon face with a fiberglass layer. The Filth has a 16 mm high-density polypropylene core, a carbon-only raw T700 face and Bread & Butter's patented thermoformed construction.
Is the Loco or the Filth more powerful?
The Loco rates higher for power in every shape on our scale, thanks to its foam core and fiberglass layer. The Filth rates higher for control and spin.
Which Loco or Filth shape should I choose?
Standard (16.0 x 8.0 in) for the biggest sweet spot and quickest hands, Hybrid (16.2 x 7.6 in) for all-court balance, or Elongated (16.5 x 7.375 in) for reach and power with a 5.5 in handle.
Are the Loco and Filth USA Pickleball approved?
Yes. All three Loco shapes and all three Filth shapes are on the USA Pickleball approved paddle list.
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Put the paddles from any guide side by side and compare them on the same research scale.