Back squat or frount squat, wats safer

I was woundering wat your views were on this, i have never traind useing frount squats before but due to a doggy back i was thinking of giveing them ago. would they be a safer bet, less weight but with the same benfits plus that extra bit of core work. Do anyone here train with them an are they as good as the daddy the back squat.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Without knowing what kind of back problem you have it's hard to comment.  The front squat means less shear on the lower back and a bit less compression due to the (generally) lower weight.  Single leg training might be worth looking at, the lower weight means less stress on the back.

I have a herniated disc in my lower back L4 L5, i have had pain in my back for years but only started training a year or so ago, my goal was an still is to get strong. When i started i was doing a 5x5 routine was doing realy well, i was still geting pains in my back but i didnt no then wat was wrong. So in jan last year i got a scan an it shows that i have an herniated disc, so with docs advice and a physio they said less weight more reps. At the time it crushd me and the past year my gains have been crap. Am a farmer an i also have a 8 to 5 job  catching turkeys lol so very hard on my back, i never have much time so i train at home, made my own squat rack an other stuff, av built up a decent home gym. When i was doing 5x5 i started of squating 40kg lol deadlifting about no more than 60kg LOL but before my scan i was abl for 110kg squat x5 an 140kgx5 deadlift, all  that with a bad disc i didnt no i had. I only squat with 70-80kg for 8 reps and i made a trap bar for deadlifting an only use 100 - 110kg for about 8 reps. Gains have been slow to say the lest, low reps worked far better for me.
 
I may sound like a dick here but it would break my heart if i would have to give up squating, i realy want to get better stronger but i feel that il never get there. my goal is to squat 100kgs for 8-10 an dead lift 130kg for 8 . I thought that maybe frount sqauts would be the better/safer for me. Thanks for reading any more feed back would be great.

several points to make to the posts here if I may:

• front squats put more shear load into the lumbar spine than the back squat
• Back squats put more compressive loads onto the spine
• front squat usually mean individuals will tend to lift lighter due to the load being supported on the anterior delts
• back squats individuals tend to be able to lift heavier due to the load being supported ontop of the spine
• if you have a herniated disc, QL spasm causing 'hinges', or any asymmetry through your spine either of these loads will have a higher risk of causing injury
• using higher reps and lighter loads would be adviseable IF you are going to squat at all
• ultimately you need to remove any asymmetry or excessive loads that are being tranferred into the spine from potential pelvic and shoulder dysfunction

Big Heaney we have spoken on several occasions and the answer is always going to be you have to decide what your priorities are mate
 

I find front squats fantastic for building good legs. I personally alternate between the two. So one leg session I will use front squats and the other one I use back squats. 

Skag181


I find front squats fantastic for building good legs. I personally alternate between the two. So one leg session I will use front squats and the other one I use back squats. 

Me too! I enjoy using both and I have found the technique of front squatting has improved my thoracic extension for back squats, which means I can now gain more depth on back squats

Having put back squats in as a staple of my routine again and having just tested the water for front squats I've certainly noticed a couple of things for me;
 
My foot alignment seems way harder to gauge and looks far more wonky on front squats, as well as requiring a lot more effort around the upper back to maintain an upright posture.
 
It's bloody hard trying to get your glutes into the equation of front squats.
 
The weight I can shift on fronties seems far more limited by my trunk stability, which is piss all, in the context of the weight pulling you forwards.
 
Back squats on the other hand, far nicer to me

Oh and front squats give me a horrid exertion headache no matter how much I concentrate on my breathing!

Aye ano just on a downer atm