Use Shoe Trees.
Above are two pairs of shoes. Both made by the same brand. Both purchased at around the same time by two different individuals. The individuals weight about the same and have the same shoe size. The shoes got similar amount of wear. The one one on the right used a shoe tree from the start and was conditioned with a leather wax. The one on the left never touched a shoe tree or a leather cleaner.
These two pairs aged very differently.
Waste can happen when an object that should last for 400 wears becomes unwearable after 200 wears.
Shoes need a full day’s rest between wears. The ideal way to care for them is to use shoe trees. They absorb sweat & odors, preserve the shoe structure and keep the leather from cracking . You can find them in vintage stores / craigslist / ebay / grandparent’s loft if your are lucky / shoe stores / department stores / online / on Amazon. It’s botox for your shoes. But the kind you don’t have to pay over and over again. Once the investment is done, the trees serve you forever.