Proper leather shoes

@EdwardZ

Is there anything else (away from cedar) that you'd recommend for shoes that isn't overly pricey?

Dasco shoe trees are easy to find and are, I think, not too pricey.
http://www.dunkelman.com/viewproduct.php?productid=13

Good shoes trees are to hold form and not break anything--- shoe trees can sometimes do more harm than help. They should be smooth. That's why hardwoods are the best. Mahogany is a great wood for trees but its expensive. Lime wood is OK (what Dasco uses) and much cheaper. Plastics are frowned upon but I don't think that they are that bad. In the lower cost segment I often think that the plastic trees are probably better than the wooden ones--- whose splinters can damage shoe linings.

After wearing shoes I personally don't think its a good idea to put the trees in. The more moisture the shoe has the worse, I feel, are the trees for them. If shoes are soaking they should be just filled out with newspaper (or wrapping tissue, which is better but not free) to dry. Once dry shoes can get their trees and put into storage.