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The Definitive Black Widow Article Series! Adopt Natasha Romanoff’s Black Widow Skills and Abilities into Your Own Life

Article #1 The Loadout

Nat’s been in a lot of places in the world and she’s had a lot of covers, but no matter what the Black Widow always comes prepared. The term “loadout” is defined as a set of objects to be carried into battle or any set of equipment carried while engaged in a task, expedition, etc. Widow’s loadout changes depending on her mission and circumstances.

In this first article, we’ll reference one of Black Widow’s most overlooked skills that is nonetheless inherent in her training as a spy and government operative- her ability to come prepared and her expertise in using her tools. We can see that she puts thought into her chosen equipment, carefully selecting items to make sure she has just what she needs. 

Below is a list of items Natasha Romanoff, as portrayed by Scarlett Johansson, has been known to carry with her throughout the movies. What tools are unique to her? Why are these chosen? For starters, her loadout typically includes items that give her offensive capabilities, but it also includes items that give her flexibility and the ability to improvise and change her plans on the fly. See list below-

• Dual handguns (Glock 26s) (projectile weapons)
• Baton(s) (up close melee weapon). These increase reach and can be used defensively as well as offensively. Sometimes these are electrified.
• “Sneaky Items”. These are not immediately obvious and can be used to surprise a target if Widow gets in a bind– 
  • Widow’s Bite. Her electrified gauntlets are her signature weapon and provide her with something unexpected that she can use as a last measure to put someone down or slow them down.  
  • Taser Discs. She also sometimes employs taser discs as projectiles. These act much like the widow’s bite, but can be thrown at a target. Seen in Captain America: The Winter Soldier (CATWS), she briefly disables the Winter Soldier’s mechanical arm.
  • Garrote. This is an old school assassin’s device and a nasty one at that. It actually tends to work by slitting the target’s throat (messy), not by strangulation. Link clip from Deadliest Warrior.

• Spy Tech– 
  • Motorized Grappling Hook. Used again in CATWS, to leap from an overpass to safety, and recently in the Black Widow movie.
  • Explosives/Smoke bombs. Used in Ironman 2 hallway fight scene.
  • Photostatic Veil. A nifty piece of technology Widow uses that can nearly perfectly replicate another’s face and makes the user indistinguishable from the one they are imitating.
  • Cell Phone. That all important multi-tasker (modified of course). Recorded voice memo as distraction ala CATWS highway fight. Also, from CATWS, the fingerprint scan feature used in the Camp Leigh High bunker scene.

• Very often, although not always…a disguise. Dyed hair, a hood, a dress. Not something that necessarily obscures her face like the Photostatic Veil, but something that misleads people as to her intentions. In her introductory scene in Ironman 2, not only does Natasha pose as an applicant to work at Stark Industries, but she includes modeling shots in her portfolio. Save for “Ability to Read People”? EXAMPLE??
• Clothing appropriate for the situation. A cocktail dress to appear as an innocent. A tactical white body suit for an extraction mission. One is for deception, the other is a no-nonsense utility uniform made to blend into a wintry environment. Material is tough, abrasion resistant, and design provides additional  functionality to improve efficiency/performance.

As you can see, Black Widow uses a variety of gear to make her more effective in executing her missions. Going through her cinematic history and looking at these examples is fun for sure, but what purpose does it serve beyond that other than entertainment? 

EDC for Urban and/or Wilderness Survival

Chances are, if you work in law enforcement or emergency services you’re already quite knowledgeable about this stuff. But for the rest of us, there’s no reason we can’t take some of the general ideas behind the concept of having a loadout and use them to make ourselves just a little bit more prepared and capable.

You may have heard of or may already be familiar with the concept of “everyday carry” or EDC. Hell, an entire multi-million dollar (billion?) industry has sprung up around this idea! It centers around the notion that you’ll be more prepared for everyday life as well as unexpected emergencies if you routinely have with you basic tools and necessities and spend some time being very intentional about what those should be.

Chances are, you’ve been getting by with some equipment that’s just okay at best, and at worst can cause daily frustration, time wasted, or even place you in an unsafe situation. What are the specific needs you have in your own daily life? Do you work in an urban area or outdoors? What do you need for a typical day, and what might you be very glad to have in an emergency situation? What can you assemble for your own daily loadout that will serve you better in your chosen profession/activity?

By taking just a bit of time to consider questions such as these, you can improve the work flow you experience as you go about completing the tasks of your day. By choosing a bit of kit over another or choosing items that work well together, you’ll be able to increase productivity, ease your completion of tasks, and reduce irritation, thereby conserving energy and mental bandwidth for other things.

These days there are many companies offering tactical and survival gear, and more than ever these companies are designing their clothing and  equipment options with the female customer in mind. Yes, I’m including clothing here, even though it’s not typically mentioned around EDC. But having the right piece of clothing to shield you from the elements or to discreetly hide something valuable should be an obvious consideration. And to me, this is one of the easiest and most crucial investments you can make that will improve your work flow and life enjoyment on a daily basis.

As you begin your own research, you’ll probably notice that the options out there are kind of overwhelming. There are anywhere from dozens to hundreds of choices in any one of a number of categories to include medical kits, personal protection, survival gear, knives/tools, etc. 

Tackling all of that is beyond the scope of this article so we’ll strive to keep things basic here as I hopefully provide a nudge to you to step foot into this world. Afterall, if your med kit consists of band aids and a bottle of ibuprofen that is certainly better than nothing.

Furthermore, it should go without saying, but I’ll say it anyway. Gear, tools, and equipment will only take you so far. If you want to maximize your competence and ensure you can operate your items safely and effectively, there is no substitute for proper training, in person if possible. You’ll be way more confident in carrying and using items if you’ve practiced with them! That being said….

Amongst the various clothing, bag, and accessory choices there is something available to fit everyone’s needs. From the standard tactical/military look to more understated and subtle choices, it’s worth taking the time to sift through the various options from well-known companies such as Vertx, 5.11, Triple Aught Designs (TAD), and others.

“The term ‘gray man’ (or ‘grey man’ in British English) describes someone who looks unassuming and who doesn’t stand out from the crowd, but is in fact well equipped for an emergency situation.

In crisis situations, there are benefits to going unnoticed and blending in. That is the principle behind gray man (or woman or person) theory.”

From the 5.11 Tactical Blog

Many of these makers offer options that are also much more “normie” looking, i.e. are not obvious military gear. These will give you more of a “grey man” vibe that may be more appropriate for your environment. This is probably more the route Natasha would go, given that she’s a spy and often needs to hide in plain sight, but it also depends on the circumstances. Since everyone’s situation is different, you are the person best equipped to decide what you need. But to get things started and stimulate some ideas, here are three sample loadouts for three typical kinds of people/environments. 

Achieving the Grey Woman Look

The Covert Student

Handgun not withstanding, this is basically Natasha’s plain clothes look in the beginning of the Black Widow movie. She’s dressed in what looks like an unremarkable, yet comfortable set of clothes. The goal here is to avoid drawing attention, to go unnoticed. That doesn’t mean she hasn’t thought through her choices here though.

If you notice, she’s got on some very sturdy looking tactical or hiking boots, which she’s going to rely on later when she’s running, jumping, and fighting for her life. They’re durable and will allow her to move in the ways she needs to. She’s also carrying some important items here which we see later in the film, though they’re not immediately noticeable. Most certainly, storage is a consideration, even with normie clothes such as these. This look is relaxed but practical.

You may not be a trained assassin, and I am not suggesting that your average student attending a purely academic institution should be carrying a handgun. But that doesn’t mean you can’t improve your preparedness for what life throws at you. See the below list for some suggestions on how to make your everyday casual look more comfortable and functional.

• Traditional option, run of the mill Jansport type backpack- Try the Vertx Ready Pack 2.0. If you’re in school, the backpack may be the most important piece of gear you use. This pack has many smart options baked right in. The look of it is very nondescript and won’t draw attention. At the same time, if you’d like to have the option to attach items to the front you can unzip the top front pocket and tuck it into the bag, revealing a PALs/MOLLE system. There’s a lot of organization here with an admin pocket, laptop sleeve and rear compartment with a fast access pull tab. The material is also very tough and durable.
• Traditional option, your ratty school sweatshirt. Okay, maybe it’s not that ratty. But for something even more useful, try the Triple Aught Designs (TAD) Lynx Hoodie. This jacket features the warmth and comfort you crave as well as smart features like two internal drop pockets with media port pass throughs, zipper garages for all zippers so you don’t feel that cold metal, and convenient thumb hole loops.
• Traditional option, standard do nothing yoga pants- Instead, try the 5.11 Kaia Tight. It’s got plenty of stretch and style for comfort or for a workout. But along with the minimal design you get two sleek front pockets for a phone or wallet as well as a hidden waistband pocket to stash a key (or razor blade).
• Flashlight. Useful when navigating dark parking garages. Try the Nitecore P10i. It’s easy to operate, features a disorienting strobe mode, and the battery build lasts a long time.
• A keychain that only holds keys 😒. Attach a Leatherman Micra or the Gerber Shard and you’ll be the most prepared one at the university! It’s amazing just how much functionality the Micra fits into a keychain sized tool (and it comes in various colors). If you’re averse to the idea of a foldable, swiss army type multi-tool, try out the Shard. The simply designed piece of metal has flat head drivers, a bottle opener and more. The best part is it’s airline friendly.

The Urban Office Worker

Do you ride a motorcycle to work? Well, even if you don’t you can see from the picture above that Natasha and her sister Yelena are sporting a look one level above “comfy” in terms of practicality. Natasha’s acquired a leather jacket here which is going to be tougher and more protective than the soft hoodie she wore earlier in the film. This section is for the professional worker who spends a lot of time in an office/cubicle setting. This person is more likely to hunker down for the day and may not need to be as mobile as the student.

• Traditional option, standard ho hum laptop bag- Try the TAD Axiom 24. This bag is super durable and full of smart design choices. Lots of organization options and hidden water bottle pockets on the side give this serious backpack a streamlined look. I particularly like the zippered access at the bottom front of the bag, which allows you to reach up into the pack to grab a jacket or needed items.
• Traditional option, a frustrating coffee thermos- Black Widow likes coffee and you do too. Problem is, that fancy thermos from Starbucks leaks and has to be hand washed. Sometimes simple is better. Try the Guardian Collection by Thermos. Minimal design, doesn’t leak, and all parts can be washed in the dishwasher. Need more Joe? Try the 18 oz version.
• Traditional option, backing up the hard drive, “It’s a good habit to get into”- Black Widow is an espionage master at accessing and stealing data others would prefer to keep out of her hands. That means she’s also going to take the security of her own data very seriously. Try the Buffalo MiniStation Extreme NFC external hard drive. It features advanced 256-AES encryption + an NFC card unlock option. It also sports a rugged shell and is dust/water resistant.
• Traditional option, a jacket with looks but little to no functionality- Try the Vertx Women’s Trailhawk jacket. Water and wind resistant, has a hand pocket with pass through and three discreet stash pockets.
• Traditional option, boring, do nothing pants- Try the Vertx Kesher Ops Pants. Hidden back pockets for valuables, moto-style thigh pockets big enough for a cell phone, all the stretch and style you could want.
• Traditional option, the standard Bic pen- Try the Gerber Impromptu Tactical Pen. Made of machined steel, this pen features a glass break tip and accepts “Rite in the Rain” ink cartridges, which will work in any nasty rain or snow.

The Survivalist Field Worker

Do you like going for long walks in the great outdoors?

How about spending time with family or loved ones while getting to know Mother Nature better? If you’re going to be spending a lot of time outdoors, you’ll need to consider things like how to deal with the elements (rain, snow, cold/heat) and how big or small you want your load out to be. It’s good to come prepared, but if you’re going to be out all day on a 10 mile hike you may need to eliminate some things to make your load more manageable to carry. Consider choosing items that perform the same function as a larger item but with a smaller form factor. This is often a good choice, as well as considering items that can pull double duty and perform two or more functions.

In the above photo, Nat’s got more of a standard tactical look, as there’s no hiding or sneaking around involved. But I wanted to call attention to the pack she’s wearing here. Nat’s just got the most minimal of backpacks on (can you even call it that?). The size of your everyday carry bag is going to vary from person to person and may require some experimenting to find that just right formula of big enough, but not too big.

In any case, this section is for those that work outdoors. Maybe you spend your afternoons in the woods, or go out in the elements once or twice a week. Maybe you just enjoy a good hike now and then. There’s not as much of a need here to blend in, so you may benefit from more technical fabrics and/or a technical approach to design.

• Traditional option, a bulky pack w/a lot of attachment points on the front- Try the Mystery Ranch Urban Assault 24. This ultra-popular brand is still one of the best. Their trademark tri-zip design allows you to access items in the bottom of the pack without digging through everything. Also available in other sizes to suit your needs.
• Your average multi-tool. Try the Leatherman Signal. This one includes a ferro rod and emergency whistle as well as expected tools like pliers and a knife. None of these are as good as individual, dedicated tools would be, but that’s not the point. In a pinch, they do the job, you’ll be glad you have them, and they might save your life.
• Traditional option, boring do nothing pants– Give the 5.11 Shella Pant a go. Like the Kaia tight above, these pants feature good storage but with a more streamlined approach.
• Traditional option, a first aid kit with a bunch of filler items. Instead, try the My Medic MyFAK. FAK stand for First Aid Kit. This set is packed to the gills with high quality, useful items that are organized into clearly labeled modules, making items easy to find in an emergency situation. One of the nicest inclusions here is the set of trauma shears. Comes in standard and pro versions.
• Traditional option, a set of bulky binoculars. Instead try the Nocs Zoomtube Monocular. There’s nothing wrong with binoculars, but the monocular is more compact, which makes it more accessible, which makes it more likely you’ll actually use it often. This option is IPx4 water resistant and comes with a lifetime warranty.

Finale

Did you enjoy the Black Widow movie? I always enjoy seeing the gear and items a character chooses on their journey, especially when that character is a little more grounded like Natasha. This article aimed to give you some ideas on the concept of everyday carry and how you can use it in your day to day life. As always, our experience is improved whenever we make the time to slow down and really consider what’s best for us, instead of just blindly rushing on to the next demand that life has in store. What’s in your loadout!? What do you everyday carry? Sound off in the comment section below! And stay tuned for the next installment of the Definitive Black Widow Article Series!