Starting out?

I've been contemplating buying one of those 3 in 1 jackets where you can remove the inner fleece.

Now since I've been reading a few old posts it seems that using a base layer with a fleece and waterproofs are the way forward.

I have a base layer, fleeces and waterproofs but cannot say that they were designed for extreme hicking, and by that i mean hicking and camping overnighht in the british winters.  My question is should I purchase kit rated for this time of year or can you layer on the cheap side and be ok?

I sometimes suffer from extreme hicking when my hiccups are really bad

You certainly can layer on the cheap. Synthetic or merino baselayers are find, any fleece'll be ok, you can pick up microfleeces in Tesco for about £3 and 200 weight fleece (mid weight - the sort of thing you wear into town) for not much more. If you're wanting to backpack and wildcamp in winter, then you probably need to think about an insulation layer as fleece may be too heavy and bulky to provide the amount of warmth necessary at that time of year. In that case, think down or a good synthetic insulated jacket or smock.

Thanks Kate, yes hiking not hicking

 I'll also have a look in TK-MAX they've usually got fleeces etc.

Ski jackets tend to be quite heavy and bulky and are designed to be worn by skiers all day long; TKM sell loads of these, often made by Dare to Be. An insulated jacket, whether synthetic or down, will be light and compressible so you can pop it in a stuff-sack and pull it out when you stop to keep you warm.

Down is generally lighter, more compressible and warmer than synthetic, though more expensive, and doesn't like getting wet. Synthetics are thus more forgiving of abuse! Montane and Rab do good quality insulated jackets, though none of 'em are cheap.

This Berhgaus down jacket is pretty good, bulkier than more expensive ones, but not at all bad for the price. Or have a look at Alpkit's Filo down jackets (you'll find them with a quick google).