Should RF 100-500 be placed into camera bag/backpack in extended position

[carl_schnurr]

I recently purchased a R6ii wiith an RF 100-500 lens.  I plan on getting a 1.4 Extender shortly.  I am now looking for a camera backpack. 

I suspect I’ll  want to use my bag in two different modes.

1. To store my camera, accessories, and lenses (unmounted from the camera) for storage at home or when travelling; and
2.  I like the idea of being able to place the camera with the 1,4x adapter and RF100-500 lens mounted (extended out and locked at 300mm), so it is ready to shoot when I take it out of the bag.  This requires about 15" of bag length.  The camera would likely be accessed from the top of the backpack, with the lens pointing down.

Should I even be considering placing the camera with mounted 1.4 Extender and lens locked at 300mm in a camera backpack?.  Is the risk of damage to the lens barrel from bumps etc significantly higher when the lens is extended?
Another factor could be that the LOCK position on the barrel doesn't really provide a hard lock.
   

RF100-500mm F4.5-7.1 L IS USM 

[Ron888]

There's one thing i dont think has been mentioned as yet?
Are there any camera bags where you make custom shaped holes by picking out the foam? If so it would be easy to configure one of those for a camera and lens, where the lens is pointing down but has no pressure on it's nose(held up by the camera body)
I've been intending to shop for such a thing myself -or make one if nothing is available.I'd wear it as a front backpack so the camera could be taken out in a few seconds.
Would that be what you're wanting?

[HikingBob]

Well, there's a whole lot of additional information in your latest reply that you didn't mention earlier, specifically the weather conditions you're planning on being in. 🙄  Knowing this ahead of time would have saved a lot of back and forth on the topic.

Taking into consideration all the new information, then just keep everything together.

[carl_schnurr]

Sorry about that HikingBob,

My initial question was focused on what bag to buy.  There were a few replies that believed one should keep lens retracted..  I assumed that to be always, and I'd need a different work flow to accommodate.  It wasn't until a few more replies before I go a sense that while its good practice, I can apply some judgement to the decision.