diff --git a/include/dhcp.h b/include/dhcp.h
index a01fe52..9b9097f 100644
--- a/include/dhcp.h
+++ b/include/dhcp.h
@@ -145,7 +145,7 @@ namespace Tins {
         /**
          * The DHCP option type.
          */
-        typedef PDUOption<uint8_t> option;
+        typedef PDUOption<uint8_t, DHCP> option;
         
         /**
          * The type used to store the DHCP options.
diff --git a/include/dhcpv6.h b/include/dhcpv6.h
index 4d10822..94e9194 100644
--- a/include/dhcpv6.h
+++ b/include/dhcpv6.h
@@ -46,7 +46,7 @@ public:
     /**
      * Represents a DHCPv6 option. 
      */
-    typedef PDUOption<uint16_t> option;
+    typedef PDUOption<uint16_t, DHCPv6> option;
 
     /**
      * The message types.
diff --git a/include/dot11/dot11_base.h b/include/dot11/dot11_base.h
index 565638f..8d01373 100644
--- a/include/dot11/dot11_base.h
+++ b/include/dot11/dot11_base.h
@@ -57,7 +57,7 @@ public:
     /**
      * \brief IEEE 802.11 options struct.
      */
-    typedef PDUOption<uint8_t> option;
+    typedef PDUOption<uint8_t, Dot11> option;
 
     /**
      * The type used to store tagged options.
diff --git a/include/endianness.h b/include/endianness.h
index 79e6424..31b9a53 100644
--- a/include/endianness.h
+++ b/include/endianness.h
@@ -55,6 +55,16 @@
 
 namespace Tins {
 namespace Endian {
+    /** 
+     * \brief "Changes" a 8-bit integral value's endianess. This is an
+     * identity function.
+     *
+     * \param data The data to convert.
+     */
+    inline uint8_t do_change_endian(uint8_t data) {
+        return data;
+    }
+    
     /** 
      * \brief Changes a 16-bit integral value's endianess.
      *
diff --git a/include/icmpv6.h b/include/icmpv6.h
index c46ea1d..d4345fe 100644
--- a/include/icmpv6.h
+++ b/include/icmpv6.h
@@ -135,7 +135,7 @@ public:
     /**
      * The type used to represent ICMPv6 options.
      */
-    typedef PDUOption<uint8_t> option;
+    typedef PDUOption<uint8_t, ICMPv6> option;
     
     /**
      * The type used to store options.
diff --git a/include/internals.h b/include/internals.h
index 4b6d691..d953413 100644
--- a/include/internals.h
+++ b/include/internals.h
@@ -99,14 +99,14 @@ private:
 void skip_line(std::istream &input);
 bool from_hex(const std::string &str, uint32_t &result);
 
-template<bool, typename>
+template<bool, typename T = void>
 struct enable_if {
-    
+    typedef T type;
 };
 
 template<typename T>
-struct enable_if<true, T> {
-    typedef T type;
+struct enable_if<false, T> {
+    
 };
 
 PDU *pdu_from_flag(Constants::Ethernet::e flag, const uint8_t *buffer, 
@@ -173,6 +173,31 @@ HWAddress<n> last_address_from_mask(HWAddress<n> addr, const HWAddress<n> &mask)
 inline bool is_dot3(const uint8_t *ptr, size_t sz) {
     return (sz >= 13 && ptr[12] < 8);
 }
+
+template<typename T>
+struct is_unsigned_integral {
+    static const bool value = false;
+};
+
+template<>
+struct is_unsigned_integral<uint8_t> {
+    static const bool value = true;
+};
+
+template<>
+struct is_unsigned_integral<uint16_t> {
+    static const bool value = true;
+};
+
+template<>
+struct is_unsigned_integral<uint32_t> {
+    static const bool value = true;
+};
+
+template<>
+struct is_unsigned_integral<uint64_t> {
+    static const bool value = true;
+};
 } // namespace Internals
 } // namespace Tins
 /**
diff --git a/include/ip.h b/include/ip.h
index 9c3a653..2f5cea5 100644
--- a/include/ip.h
+++ b/include/ip.h
@@ -169,7 +169,7 @@ namespace Tins {
         /**
          * The IP options type.
          */
-        typedef PDUOption<option_identifier> option;
+        typedef PDUOption<option_identifier, IP> option;
 
         /**
          * The type of the security option.
diff --git a/include/ipv6.h b/include/ipv6.h
index 06e289d..ce6598f 100644
--- a/include/ipv6.h
+++ b/include/ipv6.h
@@ -60,7 +60,7 @@ public:
     /**
      * The type used to represent IPv6 extension headers.
      */
-    typedef PDUOption<uint8_t> ext_header;
+    typedef PDUOption<uint8_t, IPv6> ext_header;
     
     /**
      * The type used to store the extension headers.
diff --git a/include/pdu.h b/include/pdu.h
index db56abe..358d0ee 100644
--- a/include/pdu.h
+++ b/include/pdu.h
@@ -65,6 +65,14 @@ namespace Tins {
          */
         typedef byte_array serialization_type;
 
+        /**
+         * The typep used to identify the endianness of every PDU.
+         */
+        enum endian_type {
+            BE,
+            LE
+        };
+
         /**
          * \brief Enum which identifies each type of PDU.
          *
@@ -123,6 +131,12 @@ namespace Tins {
             IPSEC_ESP,
             USER_DEFINED_PDU = 1000
         };
+        
+        /**
+         * The endianness used by this PDU. This can be overriden
+         * by subclasses.
+         */
+        static const endian_type endianness = BE;
 
         /** 
          * \brief Default constructor.
diff --git a/include/pdu_option.h b/include/pdu_option.h
index 9f51b0e..b891a14 100644
--- a/include/pdu_option.h
+++ b/include/pdu_option.h
@@ -32,10 +32,120 @@
 
 #include <vector>
 #include <iterator>
+#include <algorithm>
 #include <stdint.h>
 #include "exceptions.h"
+#include "endianness.h"
+#include "internals.h"
 
 namespace Tins {
+/**
+ * \cond
+ */
+template<typename OptionType, class PDUType>
+class PDUOption;
+
+namespace Internals {
+    template<typename T, typename X, typename PDUType>
+    T convert_to_integral(const PDUOption<X, PDUType> & opt) {
+        if(opt.data_size() != sizeof(T))
+            throw malformed_option();
+        T data = *(T*)opt.data_ptr();
+        if(PDUType::endianness == PDUType::BE)
+            data = Endian::be_to_host(data);
+        else
+            data = Endian::le_to_host(data);
+        return data;
+    }
+    
+    template<typename T, typename = void>
+    struct converter {
+        template<typename X, typename PDUType>
+        static T convert(const PDUOption<X, PDUType>& opt) {
+            return T::from_option(opt);
+        }
+    };
+    
+    template<>
+    struct converter<uint8_t> {
+        template<typename X, typename PDUType>
+        static uint8_t convert(const PDUOption<X, PDUType>& opt) {
+            if(opt.data_size() != 1)
+                throw malformed_option();
+            return *opt.data_ptr();
+        }
+    };
+    
+    template<>
+    struct converter<uint16_t> {
+        template<typename X, typename PDUType>
+        static uint16_t convert(const PDUOption<X, PDUType>& opt) {
+            return convert_to_integral<uint16_t>(opt);
+        }
+    };
+    
+    template<>
+    struct converter<uint32_t> {
+        template<typename X, typename PDUType>
+        static uint32_t convert(const PDUOption<X, PDUType>& opt) {
+            return convert_to_integral<uint32_t>(opt);
+        }
+    };
+    
+    template<>
+    struct converter<uint64_t> {
+        template<typename X, typename PDUType>
+        static uint64_t convert(const PDUOption<X, PDUType>& opt) {
+            return convert_to_integral<uint64_t>(opt);
+        }
+    };
+    
+    template<typename T>
+    struct converter<std::vector<T>, typename enable_if<is_unsigned_integral<T>::value>::type> {
+        template<typename X, typename PDUType>
+        static std::vector<T> convert(const PDUOption<X, PDUType>& opt) {
+            if(opt.data_size() % sizeof(T) != 0)
+                throw malformed_option();
+            const T *ptr = (const T*)opt.data_ptr();
+            const T *end = ptr + (opt.data_size() / sizeof(T));
+            
+            std::vector<T> output(std::distance(ptr, end));
+            typename std::vector<T>::iterator it = output.begin();
+            while(ptr < end) {
+                if(PDUType::endianness == PDUType::BE)
+                    *it++ = Endian::be_to_host(*(ptr++));
+                else
+                    *it++ = Endian::le_to_host(*(ptr++));
+            }
+            return output;
+        }
+    };
+    
+    template<typename T>
+    struct converter<std::pair<T, T>, typename enable_if<is_unsigned_integral<T>::value>::type> {
+        template<typename X, typename PDUType>
+        static std::pair<T, T> convert(const PDUOption<X, PDUType>& opt) {
+            if(opt.data_size() != sizeof(T) * 2)
+                throw malformed_option();
+            const T *ptr = (const T*)opt.data_ptr();
+            std::pair<T, T> output;
+            if(PDUType::endianness == PDUType::BE) {
+                output.first = Endian::be_to_host(*ptr++);
+                output.second = Endian::be_to_host(*ptr);
+            }
+            else {
+                output.first = Endian::le_to_host(*ptr++);
+                output.second = Endian::le_to_host(*ptr);
+            }
+            return output;
+        }
+    };
+}
+
+/**
+ * \endcond
+ */
+
 /**
  * \class PDUOption
  * \brief Represents a PDU option field.
@@ -46,16 +156,11 @@ namespace Tins {
  * 
  * The OptionType template parameter indicates the type that will be
  * used to store this option's identifier.
- * 
- * The Container template parameter indicates the container which will
- * be used to store this option's data. The container <b>must</b>
- * store data sequentially. std::vector<uint8_t> is the default
- * container.
  */
-template<typename OptionType, class Container = std::vector<uint8_t> >
+template<typename OptionType, class PDUType>
 class PDUOption {
 public:
-    typedef Container container_type;
+    typedef std::vector<uint8_t> container_type;
     typedef typename container_type::value_type data_type;
     typedef OptionType option_type;
 
@@ -158,6 +263,18 @@ public:
     size_t length_field() const {
         return size_;
     }
+    
+    /**
+     * \brief Constructs a T from this PDUOption.
+     * 
+     * Use this method to convert a PDUOption to the specific type that
+     * represents it. For example, if you know an option is of type
+     * PDU::SACK, you could use option.to<TCP::sack_type>().
+     */
+    template<typename T>
+    T to() const {
+        return Internals::converter<T>::convert(*this);
+    }
 private:
     option_type option_;
     uint16_t size_;
diff --git a/include/pppoe.h b/include/pppoe.h
index 245ce36..7ab729b 100644
--- a/include/pppoe.h
+++ b/include/pppoe.h
@@ -72,7 +72,7 @@ public:
     /**
      * The type used to store a TLV option.
      */
-    typedef PDUOption<TagTypes> tag;
+    typedef PDUOption<TagTypes, PPPoE> tag;
     
     /**
      * The type used to store the options.
diff --git a/include/tcp.h b/include/tcp.h
index a5ff3b0..d822cd8 100644
--- a/include/tcp.h
+++ b/include/tcp.h
@@ -102,7 +102,7 @@ namespace Tins {
         /**
          * The type used to store TCP options.
          */
-        typedef PDUOption<uint8_t> option;
+        typedef PDUOption<uint8_t, TCP> option;
 
         /**
          * The type used to store the options.
@@ -490,11 +490,14 @@ namespace Tins {
         static const uint16_t DEFAULT_WINDOW;
         
         template<class T> 
-        T generic_search(OptionTypes opt) const {
-            const option *option = search_option(opt);
-            if(option && option->data_size() == sizeof(T))
+        T generic_search(OptionTypes opt_type) const {
+            const option *opt = search_option(opt_type);
+            if(!opt)
+                throw option_not_found();
+            return opt->to<T>();
+            /*if(option && option->data_size() == sizeof(T))
                 return *(const T*)(&option->data_ptr()[0]);
-            throw option_not_found();
+            throw option_not_found();*/
         }
         
         void internal_add_option(const option &option);
diff --git a/src/tcp.cpp b/src/tcp.cpp
index 6aa18c5..96913c9 100644
--- a/src/tcp.cpp
+++ b/src/tcp.cpp
@@ -123,7 +123,7 @@ void TCP::mss(uint16_t value) {
 }
 
 uint16_t TCP::mss() const {
-    return Endian::host_to_be(generic_search<uint16_t>(MSS));
+    return generic_search<uint16_t>(MSS);
 }
 
 void TCP::winscale(uint8_t value) {
@@ -161,16 +161,10 @@ void TCP::sack(const sack_type &edges) {
 }
 
 TCP::sack_type TCP::sack() const {
-    const option *option = search_option(SACK);
-    if(!option || (option->data_size() % sizeof(uint32_t)) != 0)
+    const option *opt = search_option(SACK);
+    if(!opt) 
         throw option_not_found();
-    const uint32_t *ptr = (const uint32_t*)option->data_ptr();
-    const uint32_t *end = ptr + (option->data_size() / sizeof(uint32_t));
-    sack_type edges(end - ptr);
-    sack_type::iterator it = edges.begin();
-    while(ptr < end)
-        *it++ = Endian::host_to_be(*(ptr++));
-    return edges;
+    return opt->to<sack_type>();
 }
 
 void TCP::timestamp(uint32_t value, uint32_t reply) {
@@ -180,12 +174,10 @@ void TCP::timestamp(uint32_t value, uint32_t reply) {
 }
 
 std::pair<uint32_t, uint32_t> TCP::timestamp() const {
-    const option *option = search_option(TSOPT);
-    if(!option || option->data_size() != (sizeof(uint32_t) << 1))
+    const option *opt = search_option(TSOPT);
+    if(!opt)
         throw option_not_found();
-    uint64_t buffer = *(const uint64_t*)option->data_ptr();
-    buffer = Endian::be_to_host(buffer);
-    return std::make_pair(static_cast<uint32_t>(buffer >> 32), buffer & 0xffffffff);
+    return opt->to<std::pair<uint32_t, uint32_t> >();
 }
 
 void TCP::altchecksum(AltChecksums value) {