Heading to Peru and I hear it is BEST to get a hiking shoe.  I couldn't find a women's hiking shoe that fit so I opted for a kids shoe (cheaper!).  I am now walking around stormin' Seattle pavements and dog parks in preparation.  I don't think these needed to be broken in and I have been pretty comfortable trekking around in these.  The treads has gripped the ground and I feel great in them.

The drop in star is the super stiff laces.  I am a grown woman and I have to pull fairly hard to tighten this shoe and tie into a bow. I am pretty sure that the kids would just tie loosely and go.

I wear a 2.5/3 in kids and 4 - 5 in womens (depending on the brand).  I have a size 3 in these and it has worked out great.