No experience on outdoor climbing. Can I start buying gear when on huge discounts?

I'm a beginner climber who's been climbing toprope and lead indoors. I've been wanting to go outdoors once I find a consistent partner to go out with, but I'm just not sure if I should slowly get my gear ready when the prices are low. Am I getting carried away too much? Or is it a good idea to slowly get ready if I ever plan to climb outdoors?

Never buy retail!

The for sale forum here is a good resource as well.

I wholeheartedly second what Zephod says. Climbing 10+ years. 

Nothing wrong with pre-emptively buying gear... just make sure you will actually use it. Make sure its from a legit site if buying online. Beware used goods in that you can't know their history. Typically ropes and harnesses you don't buy second hand unless you personally know and trust the person who is selling it. Cams you may want to replace the slings, unless you know the seller, etc...

Don't be too eager to buy cheap used cams before you actually know which brands you like or you will just end up reselling them yourself.

... and since your in SLC, don't keep shit in your car.

Always try to get climbing gear when it’s on sale!! Any climber wishing to get outside should own:

A Helmet

A Harness

Climbing Shoes

120cm nylon sling for making a tether

An ATC belay / rappel device (make sure the ATC has two slots)

2 or 3 large locking carabiners 

Optional: 2 wire gate carabiners and a prussik loop. 

The people that teach you how to climb outside should provide the rest of the gear. You can buy more afterwards once you know what you need. 

Offer to carry the rope (or the rack or both) to the climbing wall for the person providing the gear. Offer to drive. 

If I was to suggest buying one more thing to get you further down the line I would get a dynamic single rated climbing rope in 60 meter or 70 meter length and between 9.2-10.0 millimeter diameter. I suggest Mammut, or Sterling ropes.

If you’re really determined go ahead and get 12 QuickDraws too. 

No hurry to buy gear if your partner has what is needed. I want to second buying from reputable shops or online outlets. Avoid  the gear on ebay and Amazon that looks identical to quality gear at half the price. It is often of much lower quality, uncertified and untested.

Alex Fletcher wrote:

Always try to get climbing gear when it’s on sale!! Any climber wishing to get outside should own:

A Helmet

A Harness

Climbing Shoes

120cm nylon sling for making a tether

An ATC belay / rappel device (make sure the ATC has two slots)

2 or 3 large locking carabiners 

Optional: 2 wire gate carabiners and a prussik loop. 

The people that teach you how to climb outside should provide the rest of the gear. You can buy more afterwards once you know what you need. 

Offer to carry the rope (or the rack or both) to the climbing wall for the person providing the gear. Offer to drive. 

If I was to suggest buying one more thing to get you further down the line I would get a dynamic single rated climbing rope in 60 meter or 70 meter length and between 9.2-10.0 millimeter diameter. I suggest Mammut, or Sterling ropes.

If you’re really determined go ahead and get 12 QuickDraws too. 

If you're climbing gear-protected routes, add a nut pick to your shopping list. It'll pay for itself first time a nut doesn't cooperate.

Don’t buy your gear on Amazon. 

REI is offering 25% off Petzl, BD, La Sportiva and a few other brands until May 29. You might be able to find something besides hexes with that selection.

What are your goals for climbing outside? Do you want to get on anything and everything (Multipitch Trad, boulder, sport?). Some more context here can definitely lend a hand. 

I see no problem with slowly getting gear together, that's how I did it. And sure I didn't buy the best gear that I still use today but I sold off what I didn't like (or just used it to death anyway and bought better gear once it wore out). The only gear I regret buying is really old cams (just a waste of money). Every cam you ever buy should be on sale, and watch out for the MP used forum... most people are selling their 10 year old cams for almost the same price as new with a 25% off coupon. 

And yeah when I got into trad I lead on a rack of 4 cams, nuts and a bunch of hexes, they were a great way to get started on moderate climbs but I definitely never bring them anymore (now that I have enough cams).  

Obviously getting a rope and some quickdraws is the best way to start (after shoes, harness, belay, chalkbag).

Like people said above, at a minimum, you should have:

[harness, shoes, belay device] , helmet, sling and a a few lockers.

Does your gym or crag have any classes to learn to rappel, transition from climbing to lowering and such situations?
If so, getting a rope, cordalette, prusssik, 12 QuickDraws a few slings and lockers and (ideally) a section of static rope, would set you up for sport and toprope climbing outside.

Should you buy now or wait? Depends on how much you want to have the ‘best’ gear, and how much you care about wasting money.

if you buy now, you will end up with some gear that later on, you realize is not the best item (for you). Still, it’s hard to go wrong with a rope (as long as you get the right length for your area).

Static ropes for toproping anchors are even more homogeneous.

But carabiners, belay/rappel devices, slings, Prussiks ,  etc are much more varied, and one persons favorite is another’s horrible.