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BEND, Ore., September 11, 2026 – Dragan Systems, the Oregon-based backcountry gear company founded by aerospace engineers Ryan Neil and Jake Ruhl, today introduced the Dragan Pod, a compact support platform designed to make its award-winning Dragan Pocket Winch fully self-contained in remote environments. Priced at $249, the Pod eliminates the need for trees, vehicles, or other fixed anchors, giving users a standalone lifting solution for off-grid recovery, trail maintenance, and field repairs.
Weighing just 1.5 pounds, the Dragan Pod pairs with the sub-one-pound Pocket Winch to form a roughly three-pound kit that packs down small enough for a motorcycle bag or backpack. According to the company, the combined system delivers an estimated lifting capacity of 500 to 750 pounds — enough for ATVs, motorcycles, small trailers, and heavy equipment repositioning in areas where conventional winch anchors don't exist.
“The Pod came from a simple observation: the Pocket Winch is incredibly capable, but in many backcountry scenarios you don’t have a tree or vehicle to tie into,” said Ryan Neil, co-founder of Dragan Systems. “We needed to remove that dependency without adding bulk. The solution was a lightweight, packable frame that maintains the winch’s portability while giving users a reliable lifting point.”
The Dragan Pod is built from slip-jointed carbon-fiber tube segments that snap together quickly to form an upright support. When not in use, the segments collapse and stow inside a compact carry sleeve. The design philosophy mirrors that of the Pocket Winch: strip away unnecessary weight and complexity, and build something people will actually carry.
Before launch, the Dragan team field-tested the Pod during a 10-day, 4,000-mile backcountry flight through Alaska and northern Canada. They logged approximately 50 flight hours, meeting with pilots, boaters, public-safety professionals, and other power users to gather feedback and stress-test prototypes in real-world conditions. That hands-on R&D cycle — which the company says is fundamental to its engineering process — directly shaped the Pod’s final form and material choices.
“Products built for remote environments have to prove themselves outside of the workshop,” said Jake Ruhl, co-founder of Dragan Systems. “That means putting them in the hands of the people who actually rely on them and experiencing those environments firsthand. The Dragan Pod is a direct result of that design philosophy.”
The Dragan Pocket Winch, introduced in 2025, was hailed as the world’s lightest one-ton winch, weighing under a pound. It has since been adopted globally for motorcycle and ATV recovery, trail clearing, vehicle repairs, moving heavy equipment, dressing wild game, and other remote applications. The Pod now broadens these use cases: users can perform lifts in open terrain, on rocky slopes, or in sandy washes where no anchor exists.
Key applications for the Pod + Pocket Winch combo include:
The Dragan Pod is available now at DraganSystems.com for $249. A Pocket Winch is required for operation (sold separately for $399). Customers can purchase both together at a discounted bundle price of $599.
Early adopters and outdoor industry analysts have noted that the Pod addresses a gap in the portable lifting market. Many lightweight winch systems rely on external anchor points, forcing users to carry additional anchor kits (e.g., ground anchors or tree straps) that add weight and complexity. By integrating the support structure into the winch ecosystem, Dragan Systems offers a truly self-contained solution that competes favorably against heavier tripods or pull-pal systems.
“The combination of the Pod and Pocket Winch is a game-changer for solo backcountry travelers and small expedition teams,” said outdoor gear reviewer Alex Torres, who tested a pre-production unit in the Sierra Nevada. “I could lift my 450-pound dual-sport bike off a rock without hunting for a tree or digging a deadman anchor. The whole setup fits in one hand and takes two minutes to deploy.”
Founded in Bend, Oregon, by aerospace engineers Ryan Neil and Jake Ruhl, Dragan Systems develops ultra-portable pulling, lifting, and recovery equipment for backcountry travel, field work, vehicle recovery, property maintenance, and other demanding applications. Combining nearly 50 years of engineering experience with rigorous prototyping and real-world field testing, the company designs compact, power-independent tools built around safety, reliability, and self-reliance. Learn more at .
Media Contact: Jason Silva, , 603-425-9157
Note to Editors: Additional images, videos, and interview opportunities with co-founders are available upon request. The Dragan Pod and Pocket Winch are subject to a limited lifetime warranty against defects in materials and workmanship.
