Viking bare bone vs fierce 5

[rap778]

I have been reading through the beginner routines and can’t decide which one to do. I ha e narrowed it down to Viking bare bone or the fierce 5 routine. If you had to choose one which one would you choose and why?


I am 5’10” and weigh 245 so I am looking to burn some fat into muscle and mainly strength. Thank you for your time.

[GotYrSix]

They're both accomplishing the same thing in different ways. I like how fierce 5 uses x5 which will get you use to heavy loads. Bare bones layout is nice and might help you get in the groove of the movement more. Bare bones would be what I'd do.

Fierce 5 looks like it's trying to do too much. Starting out you need to focus on getting good at your form on your main lifts. All you really need is squat, bench, row & deadlift, ohp, pull up. Master those and then move onto the rest.

[TnTNZ]

They are both doing similar things, in different ways. One has a more hypertrophy focus, one has a more strength focus. In total contradiction to the above post I found Vikings to be trying to do more than F5.

I'd pick F5. Right out of the bat, there is nothing wrong with Vikings routine.

However, as you're a beginner. Here's why I'd pick them:

Auto regulation is not something that beginners are familiar with, the 'prescribed sets and reps' method is a little easier to deal with for starters.

Reset & Failure protocol. It's clearer in F5, and is expected. So you get used to the idea that progress eventually becomes a '2 steps forward, 1 step back' approach.

Community: F5 has a killer community around it, there are a heap of really knowledgeable people that help out.

Strength: It's geared at prioritising strength.

Balance: It is a very well balanced program.

[sooby]

- viking bare bones
- fierce 5


pick one ....

Spoiler!

that you think you will enjoy the most

[Nanashi]

I have been reading through the beginner routines and can’t decide which one to do. I ha e narrowed it down to Viking bare bone or the fierce 5 routine. If you had to choose one which one would you choose and why?


I am 5’10” and weigh 245 so I am looking to burn some fat into muscle and mainly strength. Thank you for your time.

I'd pick fierce 5 or similar routine (stronglifts/starting strength). I have stats similar to yours and started doing strong lifts after trying several other routines.
The main reason I'd pick this routine is that the strength progression is easy to stick too. You are regularly raising the weight, so that you know you are making progress even if it doesn't show on the scale or mirror.
I've found after 9 months, not paying a whole lot of attention to diet that I've gone down a shirt size, lost 3" off the waist and can squat 300 pounds. I still have a long way to go, but I wish I had done this kind of routine 8 years ago.

[RapidFail]

I love Fierce 5's exercises (I work out at home and lack the equipment to do many of the Viking's exercises) but I prefer the reps and progression of Viking Bare Bones. My physiotherapist had advised me against squatting or deadlifting heavy due to a history of back injuries (I've also had knee and shoulder injuries from strength training). My most recent injury happened while doing a 103lb deadlift. I'm tempted to blend the programs and use the Fierce 5 exercises with the Bare Bones reps and progression.

[davisj3537]

All good posts in this thread, but I came in to post what Sooby posted. Solid info all around.