The bar in the "lowered" position hits you about mid calf (or it does me). That's the position they suggest hunting from....and it unorthodox, really. I step outside the rail.....raise it to the "up" position.....then use the strap under the seat to secure it to the bar (takes about 5 seconds). In that position....I can get tight to the tree.

Honestly....if I had to hunt with it in the "down" position....I'd get a new stand. It's actually better (all around) to stay "inside" the rail on the upper. I can "not" strap the seat back to the tree......and secure the bottom of the seat to the seat back strap (sounds complicating.....but the guys who have them likely know what I'm saying) the same way I would do it to the bar, above, in the "up" position.

Even when the seat back is strapped to the tree....when you're inside the rail....you're able to get tight to the tree if you flip up the seat bottom. I can now do this with my leg....lol, while standing, without having to touch it.