Let’s talk evolution of sports equipment

My brother and I were discussing this about hockey but I suppose it can relate to any sport. Hockey is probably the sport with the most equipment needed by a player. Head to toe you’re covered in gear.

When did professional gear really separate from the gear amateurs use? I’d have to think around the 90s based on looking at the gear. Everything today is highly engineered and sculpted to make players the best they can possibly be. Most hockey equipment has about 5-10 levels. So each company will have about that many skates to cover a range of budgets, with the most expensive being the lightest, strongest, fastest stuff.

I’d have to think back in the 60s or 70s most of the stuff athletes wore wasn’t that different from what anyone who was playing the sport recreationally was basically also using. Maybe I’m wrong on that but it seems like sports gear really started to evolve around the 80s and 90s and pro gear started to separate from amateur gear.