What is the best practice to handle duplicate content?

[trophycentraltrophiesandawards]

I have several large sections that SEOMOZ is indicating has duplicate content, even though the content is not identical.  For example:

Leather Passport Section

- Leather Passports - Black

- Leather Passposts - Blue

- Leather Passports - Tan

- Etc.

Each of the items has good content, but it is identical, since they are the same products.  What is the best practice here:

1. Have only one product with a drop down (fear is that this is not best for the customer)

2. Make up content to have them sound different?

3. Put a do-no-follow on the passport section?

4. Use a rel canonical even though the sections are technically not identical?

Thanks!

[trophycentraltrophiesandawards]

Thanks.  I was afraid this might be the best way to do it   Unfortunately, I have quite a few categories like this - trophies, medals, etc. that are the same, except for size and / or color.

[RikkiD22]

If you have the resources to implement it I would personally go with #2 - it gives you the opportunity to get some long tail traffic in from the colour variables. Obviously don't make the products 'sound different' from each other, just explain the product another way.

If the products are separate for a reason which is beneficial to the customer (as you suggest) and you can write good enough content for each then this would certainly be the way to go.