I have a pair of KAVAT Bödås 2.0 boots that I have been wearing almost non-stop for a couple of years. They are quite pricey ($250), but I found these for $50 at a going-out-of business sale. The leather is incredible. I wear them through the winter, and all summer on the bike.
Due to bike-riding, they get scuffed and dusty, but they freshen up beautifully for work. The whole waterproofing for the winter, and the polishing for work is quite a mission, though. Some people enjoy taking care of shoes, but I am not one of them. You have to wipe clean, dry, apply waterproofing, let it sink in over a day or so, buff, polish, buff…
Recently at the local locksmith, I picked up a couple of these wetwipes for shoes and they are amazing. They clean, waterproof, and shine all in one wipe. And the shine and waterproofing lasts for about 6 months.
I’m with you, I hate taking time to make shoes gleam, that’s why I joined the Royal Navy rather than the Army or Air Force here after leaving school (only the toes had to be shining enough to see a reflection in). I did find a way around the shine, you bull your shoes/boots enough in the early days of getting them and then just polish and buff for two hours each night and they gleam throughout the following day. Now I never bother making them shine.