Cone baskets, also called speed baskets, are designed specifically for ski racing—particularly giant slalom and downhill events. Their streamlined shape cuts down on air resistance at high speeds, which matters when every fraction of a second counts on the race course.
For most recreational skiers, cone baskets aren't necessary. They offer minimal benefit at typical skiing speeds and are actually less effective in soft snow since they don't provide much flotation. If you're skiing groomed runs, moguls, or powder, standard or powder baskets will serve you much better.
Choose cone baskets only if you're competing in speed disciplines or training for racing. They're a specialized piece of equipment that solves a very specific problem—drag at race speeds—that most skiers simply don't encounter on a normal day on the mountain.