Luke Nichols
American YouTuber (born 1978)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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 December 1, 2025, he has served on the Young Men General Advisory Council for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.[3]
Luke Nichols | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1978 (age 47–48) Anchorage, Alaska, U.S. |
| Alma mater | Brigham Young University George Mason University |
| Children | 3 |
| YouTube information | |
| Channels | |
| Years active | 2013–2025 |
| Genres | |
| Subscribers | 19.1 million (Outdoor Boys) 1.23 million (Catfish and Carp) |
| Views | 3.3 billion (Outdoor Boys) 311 million (Catfish and Carp) |
| Last updated: February 8, 2026 | |
YouTube career
Nichols started posting videos on his first channel, Catfish & Carp, in 2013, where he focused on fishing content.[4] This channel was used to advertise their law firm, based in northern Virginia. 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
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
Nichols grew up in Alaska, where he developed a passion for the outdoors. He attended Brigham Young University and met his wife, Rebecca, while living in Provo, Utah.[1][5] The couple have three sons: Thomas, Nathan and Jacob.[1][10]
Law career
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
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]