Luke Nichols
Luke Nichols | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1978 (age 46–47) |
| Alma mater | Brigham Young University George Mason University |
| Children | 3 |
| YouTube information | |
| Channels | |
| Years active | 2013–2025 |
| Genres | |
| Subscribers | 18.3 million (Outdoor Boys) 1.23 million (Catfish and Carp) |
| Views | 2.98 billion (Outdoor Boys) 311 million (Catfish and Carp) |
| Last updated: November 8, 2025 | |
Luke Nichols (born 1978)[1] is an American YouTuber known for the channel Outdoor Boys. He primarily produced content on backcountry camping, bushcraft, survival, and outdoor cooking.[1][2] Since 2025, he has served on the Young Men General Advisory Council for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.[3]
YouTube career
[edit]Nichols started posting videos on his first channel, Catfish & Carp, in 2013, where he focused on fishing content.[4] He launched the Outdoor Boys YouTube channel in May 2015.[1] In 2020, Nichols began to work on YouTube full time when his channels outpaced his law practice. Followers enjoy Nichols' content for its "simple and wholesome" nature.[5] His emphasis on "outdoor activities, self-reliance, and family values" is said to resonate with viewers.[6]
Retirement
[edit]In May 2025, Nichols announced via a video on his channel that he would be stepping back from YouTube, both due to privacy concerns and to spend more time with his family.[7][8] In the span of the 18 months leading up to this video, Nichols gained 12 million followers.[9] Nichols considered the resulting attention to be "overwhelming".[10] Nichols stated that he may post a final round of videos at the end of the year.[7] In November 2025, Nichols announced he would be posting three unfinished videos throughout the month.[11]
In December 2025, a guest video Nichols filmed was published on the YouTube channel MyLifeOutdoors, since the channel's regular host was on hiatus to care for a family member diagnosed with cancer.[12]
Personal life
[edit]Nichols grew up in Alaska, where he developed a passion for the outdoors. Nichols attended Brigham Young University and met his wife Rebecca while living in Provo, Utah.[1][5] Nichols and his wife have three children.[1]
Law career
[edit]After graduating from BYU, Nichols started a political consulting firm and ran 20 campaigns over three years. Nichols and his wife later moved to Virginia, where he attended law school at George Mason University. Nichols started his own criminal defense practice, focused on traffic laws.[5]
Religious service
[edit]When he was 19, Nichols traveled to Japan on a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in Fukuoka and the surrounding area.[3]
In December 2025, Nichols was appointed to the Young Men General Advisory Council for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.[3][13]
References
[edit]- ^ a b c d e Rathore, Bhavika (May 17, 2025). "Outdoor Boys announces retirement: All about Alaska YouTuber Luke Nichols' wife and kids". Hindustan Times. Retrieved May 28, 2025.
- ^ Vargas, Luke (February 8, 2024). "How Outdoor Boys videos are getting me through winter | Column". The Daily Collegian. Retrieved December 3, 2024.
- ^ a b c "14 Men Called to Young Men General Advisory Council". newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org. December 9, 2025. Retrieved December 9, 2025.
- ^ "Who is Luke Nichols? Outdoor Boys creator steps away from YouTube". The Times of India. May 18, 2025. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved May 28, 2025.
- ^ a b c Terrill, Daniel (December 29, 2023). "Meet the Outdoor Boys, TikTok's Latest Trend". Outdoors with Bear Grylls. Retrieved December 3, 2024.
- ^ "Luke Nichols announces hiatus from Outdoor Boys YouTube channel". The Express Tribune. May 18, 2025. Retrieved May 28, 2025.
- ^ a b McBride, Jessica (May 17, 2025). "'Outdoors Boys' Dad Luke Nichols Quits Beloved YouTube Channel". Men's Journal. Retrieved May 28, 2025.
- ^ Lee, Lloyd. "A YouTuber's subscriber base exploded in 18 months. He's stepping back partly because the attention got a 'bit overwhelming.'". Business Insider. Retrieved May 28, 2025.
- ^ "Outdoor Boys creator Luke Nichols steps back from YouTube to reclaim family life". The Economic Times. May 18, 2025. ISSN 0013-0389. Retrieved May 28, 2025.
- ^ Romboy, Dennis (May 21, 2025). "How social media reacted to 'Outdoor Boys' pulling the plug on YouTube". Yahoo Life. Retrieved May 28, 2025.
- ^ Romboy, Dennis. "'Outdoor Boys' is back on YouTube — sort of". KSL. Retrieved November 8, 2025.
- ^ Gupta, Sehjal (December 1, 2025). "Outdoor Boys star Luke Nichols comes back from YouTube retirement to help MyLifeOutdoors creator Steven in family crisis". The Times of India. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved December 10, 2025.
- ^ "Prominent outdoors YouTuber joins advisory council for the LDS Church". The Salt Lake Tribune. Retrieved December 10, 2025.