But American military veteran Adam Nichols has redesigned the flashlight so that it does so much more, in a product concept that was drawn from his service experiences as well as his love of the outdoors… and a thing or two he learned while riding out hurricanes.

The product is based entirely on three things that people need to survive in almost all situations: light, fire and power. So the Pyyros, which begins with a 6061 T6 aviation-grade aluminium case that's nearly indestructible, works to deliver all three. It also begins as a 1000-lumen flashlight with a 3400 mAh battery, but it's modular so that users can adjust components – carrying a long, completely waterproof flashlight with all of the component segments, or removing a few to take only the parts they'll need.

First, there's the base model. In addition to the 6-hour lamp and the rechargeable Panasonic battery – there's enough juice for two cycles of iPhone charges – there's an emergency USB 2.0 port for data and communications, and one of the first tools, a stainless steel hammer cap. The Pyyros Backwoods adds a MicroUSB Port and modules for the interchangeable 6-piece screwdriver kit and the Crossfire All-Weather Firestarter, both of which are segments that screw on to the flashlight case and extend the handle as elements are added.

The firestarter is a key component for outdoors enthusiasts, including campers, hunters and hikers. It's designed to ensure that no matter what the weather is like, users will have the fire source they need. That's key to survivalists, but so is safe water, and that's addressed in the Pyyros Survival model, which is designed to meet the Transport Canada and United States Federal Aviation Administration requirements for aviation survival components. So in addition to all the other elements so far, it adds another screw-on aluminium segment to hold iodine tablets used to purify water in an emergency.

By now the flashlight handle is getting longer – but it's not getting too heavy. By choosing aluminium, Nichols designed the Pyyros to be both durable and lightweight. Another segment screws in to extend the handle for the Pyyros Expedition, which adds the personal beacon locator. It's designed to be fully in compliance with international COSPAS-SARSAT standards, which define how to send distress signals to some 200 countries in order to rescue mariners, stranded hikers, snow skiiers and others in a crisis.

The search-and-rescue system relies on a satellite network, so the personal beacon locator essentially will work anywhere in the world. The beacon also can be registered with COSPAS-SARSAT so that a rescue team has basic information about the user, which aircraft or vessel the device is on board, and emergency contact information. It operates on 121.5 mHz/406 mHz frequencies, stays on 24 hours a day, and will continue to transmit a signal in temperatures as low as -20C and up to a high of 55C.

The beacon adds $USD299 to the price of any model. There's also a $35 wind or water turbine option for charging the battery, which will keep the whole system running. For all that, many outdoors enthusiasts will want to know one thing: Which piece has the bottle opener?

Nichols didn't forget that either. It's along the edges of the LED flashlight itself, which is recessed just enough from the aluminium case to handle that job too.