High-tech and high-style overhauls have led to a somewhat dizzying array of lunch boxes options. A guide to some of this year's hottest styles:

TOTES/SOFT-SIDES

This is the most common style, ranging from simple soft-sided bags to spacious so-called buckets, which are soft versions of the metal lunch pails often associated with construction workers. They offer appeal across genders and ages.

Most lunch boxes of this style offer multiple compartments, allowing the easy segregation of delicate items and heavy drinks, as in the bottom sandwich pouch on California Innovations' Arctic Zone two compartment lunch pack ($7.99).

Some of these designs also make it possible to store different foods at different temperatures. The Lands' End ThermaCool Lunch Box ($35) features an upper compartment designed to keep warm soup or beverage containers away from other items.

For children already carrying heavy loads, consider the Lands' End or Pottery Barn Kids models, which are made to hook onto the outside of the companies' backpacks.

FASHION

The utilitarian look of plainer lunch totes works fine for most people, but if you need to make a fashion statement when carting your lunch to the office, consider some of more chic designs.

For women, The Container Store offers a Built NY-designed neoprene Lunch Bag ($24.99), which resembles a stylish purse and is available in a variety of prints, including stripes, polka dots and the ever-fashionable black.

Men might consider the Lunch Tote ($12.99), which mimics the popular messenger bag style of many briefcases. This insulated, soft-sided bag easily accommodates a variety of plastic containers.

BENTO

If you're seriously into Asian food, or just like bringing lots of options for lunch, bento box-style lunch boxes are the way to go.

Bento boxes are a traditional lunch in Japan in which small portions of multiple foods are served, often in small boxes that are divided into compartments. The bento box-style lunch boxes available in the U.S. usually hold multiple small containers, some designed specifically to store soups, sandwiches, dips and salads.

Zojirushi, a company better known for its rice cookers and bread machines, offers four cylindrical bento boxes, which contain multiple covered round bowls, some of them insulated (available at various stores for $48 to $64, or see htttp://www.zojirushi.com).

Because of the shape of Zojirushi's bento boxes, these won't work for people who primarily eat sandwiches (that is, unless you eat round sandwiches). However, most models do have adorable separate containers for chopsticks.

For a more child-friendly (and rectangular) option, consider the Laptop Lunch Bento Box Set ($20.99 from Laptoplunches.com), a pencil case-like box that contains five small containers, as well as a slot for silverware. It also comes with a book of recipes and ideas for using it.

CHARACTERS

Don't underestimate the appeal of pop culture characters.

While industry stalwart Thermos continues to make hundreds of character-driven lunch boxes, including a Superman-style tote complete with cape ($9.99) and a Barbie purse lunch bag ($8.99), there are plenty of less commercial options, too.

Pottery Barn Kids has its stuffed animal-like Preschool Animal Lunch Bags ($19) available in the shape of an elephant, giraffe, horse and cow. And for older children, California Innovations has Make It Your Own Lunch Packs ($8.44), which are denim messenger-style bags that come with glitter paint and patches for children to decorate them with.

RETRO

If you have your heart set on reliving your childhood, there's always eBay. Or check out Lunchboxes.com, which sells more than 180 styles of lunch boxes, including many of the metal ones you remember (one example: Jimi Hendrix for $11.95).

Or if you're after retro style with modern appointment, consider California Innovations' metal Retro Insulated Lunch Box, which combines traditional box styling with a soft, insulated interior ($7.99).

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