You sit on the wood and face the tree, There is no transition. The padded bars next to the tree are where you lay your rifle.
Even when I weighted 180, climbing with cold weather cloths was difficult. It is a safe climber and really bites a tree. I had mine stolen, thank God. The bowhunter is larger and there is another board close to the tree to sit on.

Look at the pics in the link I posted...they actually expect you to face away from the tree by sitting on those bars and thin canvas when you slide it out. No sir, not me.

Tomcat. Is this stand in Chambers County?

Not according to the manufacturers website...

Just googled those stands. Scared me to death just looking at how you use them.

Looks to be fairly lightweight?

Human death trap is the manufacture...I think I'll stick with my Ol' Man

LOL and how many have been killed by an old man. The bow stand I saw in a store long ago had a removable board to sit on.Look at an
original Tomcat, you sit on the board. I hunted out of one.

Those were real popular in the Auburn area when I was there in the early 90's.

Killed my first deer out of one. Buddy of mine was hunting the same stand not long after that and one of the rails snapped while he was coming down. Other held on and he continued to climb down. Can't do that with a cable for sure. I have found myself heavily doubting the pins that hold the pieces together though. And the foot piece can be a pain if you have big feet, even worse in hunting boots. One thing is for sure, one in good health would grab anything softer than a steel beam and be secure. I like em, just getting to fat for mine lol.

I saw a "climber" in the back of a truck, in a parking lot, the other day that was homemade completely out of wood!!

I loved mine. Until some bastage in Russel Co. took it upon himself to remove it from the tree I left it on. I hate a thief.

You should have just shot the guy and saved him some misery.

Very carefully. I'd swap the plywood out with 3/4" treated. Then it might be able to hold you up.

I've still got one and it's prolly 25 years old,never felt unsafe in it,it's light and will climb and hold any tree you put it on,it's not the most comfortable but it's easy to haul in and out of the woods,quiet and can be put on or off the tree in about a minute

That is a Tomcat II tree climber. In the Tomcat II, once you climb up the tree, you slide the top seat out to sit on and you put your feet on the plywood climbing seat. They are, or were, manufactured somewhere in Georgia(Lyons, Ga.?). I used one for a couple years in the early 90's. It's the best climber I've ever used for skinny, tall pine trees. Not good for hardwoods, like water oaks. It is lightweight. I've put on probably anywhere from 5 to 40Lbs. since the early 90's, so I wouldn't be comfortable in one now.

I'd hunt that

Just ordered a Viper. Just haven't been comfortable using my trust TomCat this year, and its easier to spend money than lose weight lol.

I weigh over 260, and I hunt out of Tomcat I every time I go. Always have. I did have a tomcat II collapse on me, and it could have been bad. The Tomcat I is a sturdy stand for 14lbs, and I've never felt unsafe in mine. One of my I's is about 16 years old and the welds are starting to show some wear. Not being able to shoot behind has cost me 2 good deer, but it's nice facing the tree and having a solid rest to shoot from. I'd stay away from the II, it is not built to hold weight evenly.

I have one that my uncle gave to me that he'd hunted out of since the 80's. I sit facing the tree and use the "seat" as a gun holder. Honestly the grip a tree better than my summit viper. Very safe. Only problem is the place you slide your feet in to climb is too small. Takes forever to get my feet in an out. Surprisingly comfortable and I'm 185