“I don’t want that”: Luke Nichols finally opens up about stepping away from Outdoor Boys and choosing family over fame

Former YouTuber Luke Nichols, who was behind the highly successful Outdoor Boys channel, recently revealed his reason behind stepping back from YouTube and content creation. For many years, Nichols built a loyal following by documenting his outdoor adventures, survival skills, and familial moments that felt authentic and relatable. His channel’s rapid growth turned him into one of YouTube’s most recognizable outdoor creators.

In an interview on Steven’s MyLifeOutdoors channel, Nichols spoke candidly about how he did not see himself growing old as a YouTuber and had been thinking of retirement for some years. He emphasized that other concerns, including long-term sustainability, personal safety, and family priorities, shaped his outlook.

Fame, safety concerns, and a lifestyle Nichols no longer wanted

During his appearance on MyLifeOutdoors, Nichols explained his long-term plans and how being a YouTuber was not feasible anymore. While also reflecting on the nature of online fame, he said, "I always knew that I wasn't going to do this forever. And I've been thinking of retiring for a couple of years, actually. You know? I've been talking."

Nichols further went back in time to when he achieved peak fame and how people were recognizing him everywhere. Instead of embracing all the attention, he grew concerned about himself and his family. The former YouTuber added, "A big part of it was the exposure. The channel blew up really big, and it kind of went from, 'Oh, people recognize me every once in a while…we started to have really serious conversations about security issues and the safety of the family.


For Nichols, the idea of becoming a full-time celebrity did not attract him in the first place. He expressed his desire to live a normal life with his family and have the freedom to go wherever he wanted without any disruptions of any kind. He stated, “I'm looking at, you know, 'Okay, I'm going to be, you know, a really full-blown celebrity lifestyle.' I'm like, 'I don't want that. I don't want it for the kids. I don't want to live that way.”

Alongside fame, Nichols further pointed to another issue many creators face, which is the need to work at a relentless pace. He asserted that working 80 to 100 hours a week had taken a toll on his health and balance. For him, stepping away was not about choosing a life that kept him grounded and focused on his family.

Also read: OutDoor Boys star Luke Nichols comes back from YouTube retirement to help MyLifeOutdoors creator Steven in family crisis