Whether you’re using a brand-new, fluffy and comfortable sleeping bag or one that’s been through many adventures, the top priority is ensuring you sleep comfortably. Remember: a sleeping bag doesn’t generate heat on its own—it simply slows down or reduces the loss of body heat. The best approach is to help your body retain more heat.

Stay away from poor environments:Setting up your tent in a comfortable location can increase the temperature by about 30 degrees. Avoid camping at the bottom of a stream, as it tends to gather cold air, and don’t pitch your tent on a mountain ridge. Choose a wind-sheltered area, a forested spot, or use methods such as a bivy sack or digging a snow cave.

Sleeping bag loft:New sleeping bags may have reduced loft and insulation performance initially due to being compressed in their stuff sacks for a long time. It’s best to lay out your sleeping bag as soon as the tent is set up to let it regain its loft—naturally, the longer the better. Sleeping pad material: Each type of sleeping pad has different insulation properties, which help block the heat loss from the bottom of the sleeping bag. Use different pads for different seasons. For winter, it’s best to choose a full-length, solid sleeping pad that covers your entire body or an self-inflating pad, then place items like your backpack, rope, or other gear under your feet.

Full waterproofing:Any dampness in your sleeping pad will be unbearable and uncomfortable. If you don’t have a waterproof sleeping bag cover, you can use a large garbage bag as a substitute. When your tent gets wet, place damp items between the outer and inner tents or in a corner of the inner tent away from your sleeping bag. In bad weather, condensation can gather inside the inner tent, so leave the tent window slightly open to allow ventilation. Once the rain clears, take out your sleeping bag and let it dry. In snowy conditions, simply lay it out to dry inside the tent. Wear enough clothing: A mountain guide once said, if you’re not sleeping in all the clothes you brought, it means you brought too many. It’s also a good idea to bring a hat, since about half of your body heat is lost through the head.

Eat enough:Food is fuel. Don’t go to bed on an empty stomach or with an empty “fuel tank.” Eat some high-calorie food before sleeping, and remember that adequate hydration is crucial for your metabolism. If you wake up thirsty during the night or feel the need to drink more water, do so. Aim to urinate about four to five times a day, and ideally, your urine should be clear. If it’s yellow, it means your body is still dehydrated.

Warm up:A sleeping bag doesn’t produce or retain heat on its own. Don’t rush into your sleeping bag as soon as you reach camp. A tired and cold body won’t help. Eat a good, hearty dinner with a hot drink, then take a short walk under the moonlight—warm up your body without breaking into a sweat. That way, you’ll sleep comfortably. No matter what kind of sleeping bag you use, it will still feel uncomfortable and offer poor insulation in a damp environment.