Luke is the founder and host of the popular YouTube channel The Outdoor Gear Review, which provides in-depth reviews and recommendations on outdoor gear and equipment. With over 1 million subscribers, Luke has become one of the most prominent figures and trusted voices in the outdoor community. However, despite his online fame and popularity, many fans are still curious about where Luke calls home when he’s not out testing gear in the wilderness.
An Introduction to Luke and The Outdoor Gear Review
Luke started The Outdoor Gear Review YouTube channel back in 2012 as a passion project while working a 9-5 office job. What began as a hobby making videos in his spare time quickly evolved into a full-time job as the channel experienced rapid growth.
Some key facts about Luke and his YouTube channel:
- Luke’s channel focuses exclusively on thoroughly testing and reviewing outdoor gear including tents, backpacks, sleeping bags, apparel, survival tools, and more.
- His videos combine detailed product overviews and field testing with Luke’s commentary and impressions.
- Luke tests all the gear himself through extensive hands-on use on hiking, camping, hunting, and other outdoor adventures.
- The channel currently has over 1.2 million subscribers and over 185 million total video views.
- Luke uploads multiple gear review videos each week ranging from first impressions to long-term testing follow-ups.
- Luke’s expertise comes from years of experience hiking, camping, backpacking, and enjoying the outdoors.
With his honest, in-depth review style and wealth of outdoor experience, Luke has earned a reputation for providing trustworthy and unbiased assessments. His focus on real-world testing instead of just lab specs has helped make The Outdoor Gear Review channel a go-to source for guidance on outdoor products.
The Question of Where Luke Lives
While Luke has shared his outdoor adventures and gear testing exploits widely on his channel, he’s been relatively private about aspects of his personal life. This has left many viewers curious about where exactly Luke calls home when he isn’t out in the wilderness.
Luke often films videos while out on hiking or camping trips in beautiful outdoor surroundings. However, these videos offer limited clues regarding his permanent home location. Let’s examine some of the details Luke has provided about where he resides as well as some deductions based on what’s shown on his channel.
Clues Luke Has Provided
While Luke keeps pretty quiet about his exact home location, there are a few tidbits he has shared in videos over the years that provide some clues:
- He has mentioned that his home has a yard and storage for gear.
- In several videos filming at his house, there are pine trees visible outdoors.
- Luke has made reference to temperatures getting high in the summer where he lives.
- Occasionally you can hear birds chirping in the background when he films at home.
- He has talked about doing product testing hikes not too far from his home.
So it’s clear Luke has some outdoor space at his residence which is surrounded by pine trees. The area likely experiences hot summers. And there seems to be ample hiking locations in reasonable driving distance that allow for convenient testing.
Deductions Based on the Channel
Analyzing Luke’s YouTube channel itself offers further hints about where he might be based:
- His earlier videos were often filmed in the mountainous regions of western North Carolina.
- He frequently tests gear while camping and hiking in the southeastern United States.
- In some older videos shot at home, pine pollen is visible coating vehicles. Pine pollen is very common in NC, GA, TN, and VA.
- Testing trips often require just a few hours of driving from his home for access to trails.
- He has shown gear Demo Days held at Mile High Campground which is near Asheville, North Carolina.
Bringing all these details together starts to paint a picture of Luke likely residing somewhere in the southeastern United States, potentially in the Carolinas considering how many early videos centered around western NC. The temperate climate, abundance of pine trees, and proximity to great hiking and camping seems to fit this region.
The Answer: Luke Lives Near Asheville, North Carolina
While Luke has judiciously protected the exact location of his private residence, he has provided enough clues for astute viewers to deduce that he most likely lives near Asheville in the western part of North Carolina.
Luke himself confirmed during a 2018 video that he does indeed live right outside Asheville, NC.
Here are some of the key reasons why the Asheville area makes sense as Luke’s home base:
Ideal Access to Hiking and Camping
Western North Carolina is part of the stunning Appalachian Mountains region and has an enormous diversity of outdoor activities right at Luke’s doorstep.
There are hiking and camping opportunities everywhere in forests like Pisgah National Forest, Great Smoky Mountains National Park, DuPont State Recreational Forest, and more. The dramatic mountain landscapes offer the perfect testing grounds for gear.
Luke can easily drive just a short distance from home for access to trails to test products on day hikes or multi-day backpacking trips. Northern Georgia and eastern Tennessee are also easily accessible.
Suitable Climate
The climate in the Asheville region provides four distinct seasons with warm summers and moderate winters. The summer highs average in the 80s Fahrenheit which aligns with Luke’s comments about heat.
There is abundant rainfall which supports lush forests. This helps explain the many pine trees surrounding Luke’s property.
The temperate weather allows for testing gear year-round in diverse conditions from summer backpacking to winter car camping.
Outdoor Recreation Culture
Asheville is a major hub for outdoor recreation on the east coast. The area is passionate about activities like hiking, climbing, mountain biking, fly fishing and has an active camping and backpacking culture.
This provides a robust local community for Luke to interact with for gear demos and knowledge exchange about new outdoor products.
The surrounding terrain offers pretty much endless opportunities for every type of outdoor adventure making it easy to test a wide range of gear.
Local Gear Industry Presence
North Carolina has a strong presence of outdoor gear companies which offers some advantages:
- Luke can easily visit company offices or Q&A with designers.
- He can attend Outdoor Retailer demo events.
- He has close access to gear factories for a behind-the-scenes perspective.
Major brands with offices in NC include Diamond Brand, Extremus, and Industry Nine.
Personal Reasons
Beyond the practical factors above, Luke may just have personal ties to the Asheville area if he’s lived there a long time. His friends and family might be in the region. Asheville also offers a great quality of life for outdoor lovers.
The mix of a thriving city with easy access to incredible nature suits an outdoor influencer perfectly. Luke can balance modern amenities and an active social scene with endless wilderness at his doorstep.
Life in Asheville, NC for an Outdoor YouTuber
Now that we’ve established Luke’s home base is very likely in the Asheville vicinity, what is that lifestyle like for a professional YouTuber focused on outdoor gear?
Asheville provides the perfect playground for creating content about hiking, camping, backpacking, and general outdoor equipment. Let’s take a look at some of the key perks:
Blending Urban Convenience With Wilderness Access
With Asheville’s urban hub providing great restaurants, shops, events and culture, Luke can enjoy modern city living. But the dramatic mountain landscapes visible from downtown are a constant reminder of the vast wilderness options just minutes away.
Luke can finish filming a product demo in his backyard and then meet up with friends downtown for drinks that evening. Asheville makes balancing an outgoing social life with outdoor adventures super convenient.
And if Luke needs to duck into town for some last-minute gear or supplies before a camping trip, he can hit up one of Asheville’s many outdoor retailers.
Year-Round Testing Conditions
The climate in Asheville lends itself perfectly to year-round product testing.
Luke can hike through snow in winter, test rain jackets in spring storms, try out sleeping bags in summer’s heat, and compare different tents in fall winds and rains.
He can experience all four seasons in authentic conditions right in his backyard. This allows for thorough testing of gear meant for specific types of weather.
Proximity to Trailheads
There are trailheads within 20 minutes of downtown Asheville that lead to endless hiking and backpacking routes. This close proximity means quick access whenever Luke wants to test some new gear.
He can research areas that match the conditions he wants, like high winds above treeline or river crossings. And he can easily access trails ranging from short day hikes to multi-day expeditions.
Luke can leave home early in the morning and be deep in the wilderness testing products within a couple hours.
Vibrant Local Outdoor Community
As a hub for outdoor activity, Asheville has a huge community of outdoor lovers for Luke to connect with. He can meet other hikers and backpackers to potentially collaborate with on testing certain products.
There are always outdoor events happening that allow Luke to check out new gear and interact with fellow adventurers. And the local passion for outdoor recreation means Luke is surrounded by people who share his interests.
Nearby Outdoor Companies
Having several major outdoor brands located in North Carolina allows for valuable opportunities:
- Luke can easily visit gear company offices for meetings, demos, or tours.
- He can provide valuable user feedback directly to designers and engineers.
- He can form relationships with brand reps to gain insider knowledge.
- He can check out new products as soon as they are released.
This proximity to the outdoor industry improves Luke’s access to gear and people for more informed reviews.
Favorite Hiking and Filming Locations Near Asheville
Luke’s videos often showcase the immense natural beauty around western North Carolina. Here are some of his favorite outdoor spots near Asheville for hiking and filming gear reviews:
Mt. Mitchell
The highest peak in the eastern US at 6,684 ft, Mt. Mitchell offers exposed ridges and stunning long-range views perfect to test gear in extreme weather.
Graveyard Fields
This scenic area within Pisgah National Forest has waterfalls, granite rock faces, and lush forests surrounding a large meadow.
Max Patch
Known for its 360-degree panoramic views, this grassy bald summit is a fantastic sunset watching spot to test camping gear.
John Rock
This popular hike rewards with spectacular views and interesting granite boulders to test scrambling gear on.
Looking Glass Rock
The prominent granite dome rising over the forest has steep climbing routes to test out gear.
Appalachian Trail
Miles of the famed AT traverse the region offering limitless sections to test hiking boots and backpacks.
Davidson River
The forested trails following tumbling whitewater offer many scenic spots to test water filters, hammocks and fly fishing equipment in a lush environment.
Luke is certainly blessed with no shortage of stellar landscapes surrounding Asheville to showcase his gear testing and reviews. The dramatic and varied terrain explains why he chose this area to settle down in.
Gear Testing Lifestyle of an Outdoor Influencer in Asheville
Luke’s life in Asheville revolves around creating outdoor gear content as he turns his passion into a full-time career. Here is an inside look at how Luke utilizes the area for his YouTube channel and makes a living as an influencer:
Flexible Schedule
One of the perks of being a YouTuber is Luke can generally set his own schedule. This means he can pick opportune times to test gear based on weather, trail conditions, and seasonal considerations.
He can be flexible to hit the trails when there are optimal testing conditions like high winds or newly fallen snow. He can also plan around predicted storms that might offer good real-world validation.
Frequent Local Trips
Luke often tests products on day trips right near Asheville utilizing the plentiful trail access. He can leave in the morning to hike a few hours with a certain tent or jacket and still be home for dinner.
This allows quick and convenient testing when he just needs to evaluate one item. It doesn’t require extensive pre-trip planning.
Multi-Day Expeditions
For thorough long-term product testing, Luke heads out on overnights or multi-day excursions into Pisgah Forest, the Smokies, and other surrounding wilderness areas.
He’ll fully simulate real-world conditions, bringing extensive gear to analyze factors like comfort, durability, and weather resistance over days, weeks or even months out on trails.
Diverse Conditions
The varying elevations around Asheville present different environmental conditions from balmy valley hiking to exposed alpine ridges.
Luke tests gear across this spectrum to evaluate usefulness for different situations – a summer tent in hot low elevation forests versus a 3-season model on an exposed overnighter at 5000 feet elevation.
Demo Events
Luke will meet up with vendors at organized demo days where he can thoroughly test products from multiple companies side-by-side in the field.
These events held by organizers like RootsRated help efficiently evaluate and compare competing gear models in real-world scenarios.
Backyard Tests
When not hitting the trails, Luke also does plenty of testing right from his home. He’ll set up tents, camp stoves and more in his yard to assess aspects like ease of use, wind performance and Amarillo set-up times.
This allows convenient testing of gear that doesn’t require actual trail use. It also provides controlled scenarios to specifically focus on certain product features and functions.
Impact on the Local Community
While Luke spends much of his time testing gear in the wilderness, his presence as an influencer in the Asheville area also has a beneficial impact:
Drives Tourism and Outdoor Purchases
Luke’s YouTube channel with over a million subscribers gives Asheville invaluable exposure to outdoor lovers all over the world. His videos highlighting the region’s natural splendor drive many to visit and explore the area trails.
This boosts the local retail economy as visitors purchase gear, outdoor apparel, and supplies during their stays. Luke supporting local businesses also keeps money circulating locally.
Supports Environmental Preservation
By inspiring people to responsibly enjoy the outdoors, Luke helps build appreciation for these natural spaces that leads to improved conservation and stewardship.
His influence also makes the general public more invested in protecting wilderness like Pisgah and the Smokies against threats like pollution and overuse.
Provides Jobs and Opportunities
Luke’s gear testing requires help with filming, photography, editing, graphics, logistics planning and other tasks that create local jobs.
His channel’s popularity has allowed him to hire assistants to join his trips, collaborate with videographers and photographers, and work with editors. These opportunities benefit outdoor creatives in the community.
Ambassador for the Area
Luke’s fame draws positive spotlight on the Asheville region. His videos and praise for the area promote western North Carolina as a top-tier outdoor destination nationally.
This benefits the region’s tourism industry and helps attract talent, investment and development related to outdoor recreation.
In many ways, Luke offers the region free marketing and publicity by showcasing the endless opportunities for outdoor fun.
Looking Forward: Growth Ahead for Luke and the Channel
While already hugely successful with over a million loyal subscribers, Luke still likely has many goals he’s working towards growing The Outdoor Gear Review into one of the top channels and authorities for outdoor gear advice.
Here is a look at what the future may hold:
Continually Evolving Video Production
Look for Luke’s videos to keep improving in production value with higher resolution footage, faster editing, and more cinematic style. Drone shots are likely to increase providing aerial perspectives.
Advanced lighting, audio equipment, and camera stabilization add polish. And higher budget productions allow comprehensive multi-day tests in remote wilderness.
Expanded Content Variety
Luke will probably expand beyond just gear reviews to also cover outdoor skills, safety, news developments in the industry, techniques & tactics, outdoor cooking, fitness training, product roundups, and more topic variety.
This wider range of content increases his authority and “outdoor guru” appeal. It turns the channel into more of a multifaceted outdoor lifestyle brand.
Gear Design Input
As Luke’s stature grows among outdoor companies, he’ll be tapped more often for product design feedback by brands early in development cycles.
His input guiding product improvements carries weight thanks to his reputation and user perspective. This allows Luke to have real impact on gear innovations.
Media and Sponsorship Opportunities
More mainstream media exposure raises Luke’s profile further. He could start making TV appearances on travel, nature or outdoor shows. Sponsored content partnerships also increase, but Luke maintains integrity.
Nonprofit and Environmental Work
Luke may get more involved in environmental protection, trail stewardship volunteering, fundraising, and promoting outdoor nonprofits. This builds his reputation as an upstanding citizen.
Books and Courses
Authoring outdoor guidebooks or creating online video courses allows Luke to share his knowledge beyond just gear advice, letting his personal brand reach its full potential.
Conclusion
While Luke keeps the exact location of his home private to maintain a comfortable work-life balance, it’s clear to fans that he resides in the mountainous Asheville, NC area. This region provides the ideal blend of city living and quick access to some of the East Coast’s most impressive wilderness areas.
The temperate climate, proximity to trailheads, and vibrant outdoor community enable a lifestyle perfectly catered to creating gear content. It facilitates year-round product testing while also supporting growth into a multifaceted outdoor brand.
Luke’s presence benefits the local economy and serves as an ambassador shining positive light on western North Carolina as a premiere outdoor destination. It’s clear to see why he chose this area as both his professional home base and personal residence.
The Asheville region seems likely to remain the epicenter of operations for Luke and The Outdoor Gear Review channel for years to come. But fans will surely continue seeing increased content variety, production polish, industry involvement, and overall growth as he cements his status as one of the most influential figures in the outdoor gear space.