Wicker is the traditional material most commonly used to make a hot-air balloon basket.
Balloon baskets are commonly woven from wicker, often supported by a framework of cane, wood, or modern reinforcing materials. Wicker is light, flexible, and able to absorb some impact energy during landing. Its woven construction also allows the basket to remain strong without becoming unnecessarily heavy.
Modern commercial baskets may include steel cables, aluminium components, or other materials, but the visible passenger compartment is still commonly made in the familiar woven style. The basket is suspended beneath the envelope by load tapes or cables and carries the pilot, passengers, fuel tanks, and instruments.
A wicker basket is not the balloon’s envelope. The envelope is the large fabric bag above the basket, while the basket is the platform below it. Balloon designs vary widely in size, but the traditional basket remains one of the sport’s most recognizable features.