I have a question for you guys, was it really common for soldiers

they could afford it. they were soldiers, not serfs.

I'm no expert, but full plate didn't come around until the late middle ages. Your armour equipment and training usually depended on your status in society. They didn't make armour for an entire army that a king would pay for. Arms and armour was owned by the soldiers themselves. Knights and aristocracy would have quality armour and training. Men-at-arms were non-aristocratic soldiers equipped with heavy armour just like knights would be, and could fight equally well on foot or on horseback. In England, the next rank down from the men-at-arms would be the archers.

>>1364606
>a 1000 year long period
>did they do X?
Just fucking Google it.

Full plate was for knights only. Men-at-arms and the like didn't wear it (but were still well protected).