A Weber Smokey Mountain charcoal basket upgrade is for cooks who already like the WSM but want easier fuel management. The stock charcoal ring can work well, yet longer brisket cooks, ash cleanup, and airflow control often expose its limits.
This guide compares true basket-style upgrades with WSM-compatible whirlpool inserts. Pair the right basket with heat-resistant grill gloves, a reliable instant-read thermometer, and organized smoker accessories for a cleaner long-cook setup.
Product Reviews below focus on charcoal smoker capacity, airflow, ash handling, size fit, and temperature control. Check the dimensions before ordering because an 18.5 inch WSM charcoal basket and a 22.5 inch Weber Smokey Mountain charcoal basket are not interchangeable.
| Product | Best For | WSM Fit | Build |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hunsaker Vortex Charcoal Basket for 22.5 WSM | Best Overall | 22.5 inch WSM | 14 gauge steel with ash pan |
| Hunsaker Vortex Charcoal Basket for 18.5 WSM | Best for 18.5 WSM | 18.5 inch WSM | 14 gauge steel with ash pan |
| Skyflame BBQ Stainless Steel Charcoal Basket | Best Stainless Whirlpool Basket | WSM-compatible 22 inch class cookers | stainless steel cone basket |
| Uniflasy BBQ Whirlpool for Weber Kettle 22 and WSM | Best Budget Whirlpool Basket | WSM-compatible 22 inch class cookers | stainless steel cone basket |
| Outspark Upgrade BBQ Whirlpool | Best Medium Cone Basket | WSM-compatible 22 inch class cookers | stainless steel cone basket |
Quick Roundup List
- Best Overall: Hunsaker Vortex Charcoal Basket for 22.5 WSM
- Best for 18.5 WSM: Hunsaker Vortex Charcoal Basket for 18.5 WSM
- Best Stainless Whirlpool Basket: Skyflame BBQ Stainless Steel Charcoal Basket
- Best Budget Whirlpool Basket: Uniflasy BBQ Whirlpool for Weber Kettle 22 and WSM
- Best Medium Cone Basket: Outspark Upgrade BBQ Whirlpool
Product Reviews
Hunsaker Vortex Charcoal Basket for 22.5 WSM – Best Overall
This is the true Weber Smokey Mountain charcoal basket upgrade in the group for 22.5 inch WSM owners. The Hunsaker Vortex Charcoal Basket for 22.5 WSM combines a round basket, ash pan, and vortex-style deflector in one heavy steel assembly.
Choose it when burn time and cleanup matter more than a low-profile stock layout. It can hold a serious fuel load for overnight pork shoulder or brisket, and the ash plate helps keep cleanup more contained after the cook.
The tradeoff is heat management. More airflow and a different fire shape can make a Weber Smokey Mountain run hotter until you learn the vent settings.
Highlights
- True 22.5 inch WSM basket design with heavy-gauge steel.
- Built-in ash pan simplifies post-cook cleanup.
- Good choice for long burn time and steady fuel layout.
What We’d Improve
- May make the cooker run hotter until vents are dialed in.
- Best suited to 22.5 inch WSM owners, not smaller cookers.
Specifications
- Fit: 22.5 inch WSM and drum cookers
- Material: 14 gauge steel
- Style: full charcoal basket with ash pan
Customer Reviews
- “This basket is built like a tank. It’s a drop in upgrade for the Wsm. Get rid of your water pan, charcoal grate, and charcoal protector because this basket can do them all!!! Keeps temps steady as advertised and the ash plate is a game changer when cleaning your Wsm. With this upgrade, the Wsm…”
- “Love this charcoal basket!!!! It is everything we have come to expect from Hunsaker. The man put his name in a product… and he takes pride in everything he builds. Holds lots of charcoal.. and generates the heat evenly!!! Fits perfectly in my 55 gal UDS!!! I HIGHLY recommend!!!”
- “I purchased this item with the purpose of using it my regular sized oklahoma joe bronco. I think the grill is sized at 18 inches wide. The item itself is exactly as they advertised. With that being said it doesn’t work well with any of the original oklahoma joe bronco pieces. It’s looking like I…”
Hunsaker Vortex Charcoal Basket for 18.5 WSM – Best for 18.5 WSM
The Hunsaker Vortex Charcoal Basket for 18.5 WSM brings the same true basket concept to smaller Weber Smokey Mountain cookers. It is the direct pick for cooks who do not own the larger 22.5 inch model.
Its 14 gauge build, ash pan, and round basket design make it a stronger long-cook upgrade than a loose extra grate. It is also easier to lift as one unit when the cooker is cool.
The key is fit discipline. Buy this only for the 18.5 inch WSM size, and do not assume it will solve every temperature control problem without vent adjustments.
Highlights
- Sized for 18.5 inch WSM owners.
- Heavy 14 gauge welded construction.
- Built-in ash pan and deflector reduce separate parts.
What We’d Improve
- No usable customer-review excerpts were available during research.
- Specific to 18.5 inch WSM sizing.
Specifications
- Fit: 18.5 inch WSM
- Material: 14 gauge steel
- Style: full charcoal basket with ash pan
Skyflame BBQ Stainless Steel Charcoal Basket – Best Stainless Whirlpool Basket
The Skyflame BBQ Stainless Steel Charcoal Basket is a WSM-compatible whirlpool-style basket rather than a full WSM replacement ring. It is best for cooks who want a stainless insert for focused heat zones and improved airflow.
Its perforated stainless body helps keep charcoal gathered while letting ash and air move through the fuel. That can help with hot-and-fast chicken, reverse searing, and compact charcoal layouts.
Because it is a universal-style charcoal basket, confirm your grate clearance and cooking plan before treating it like a full Weber Smokey Mountain charcoal basket replacement.
Highlights
- 304 stainless steel construction.
- Perforated body supports airflow through the charcoal.
- Useful for focused heat and indirect cooking zones.
What We’d Improve
- Universal fit requires careful dimension checking.
- Not a full replacement charcoal ring.
Specifications
- Fit: WSM-compatible 22 inch class charcoal cookers
- Material: stainless steel
- Style: whirlpool cone charcoal basket
Customer Reviews
- “I use this thing every time I grill steak. It keeps the coals bunched together and really allows me to focus the heat to get a good sear.”
- “I’m updating my review to indicate that the product DOES FIT PROPERLY on the coal grate and just very slightly under the grill grate of the standard 22” Weber kettle grill. I’d like to apologize to the seller, as my previous comments (below) about it being too tall were due to user error (a…”
- “This thing holds stong and keeps my charcoal right where I want. It does the job and does it well.”
Uniflasy BBQ Whirlpool for Weber Kettle 22 and WSM – Best Budget Whirlpool Basket
The Uniflasy BBQ Whirlpool is another WSM-compatible cone insert for 22 inch class charcoal cookers. It is the value-oriented choice for cooks who want a smaller stainless airflow tool.
Use it when you want concentrated center heat and an indirect outer zone. In a Weber Smokey Mountain, that means it is more of a fire-shaping insert than a high-capacity charcoal ring.
The product copy mentions WSM compatibility, but the dimensions still matter. Measure your grate setup and decide whether a cone insert matches your low-and-slow goals.
Highlights
- Compact stainless cone design.
- Fits many 22 inch class charcoal cookers, including WSM-compatible setups.
- Good for cooks experimenting with vortex-style airflow.
What We’d Improve
- Some review use cases are kettle-focused, so WSM buyers should confirm fit.
- Cone inserts do not add the same fuel capacity as a full basket.
Specifications
- Fit: WSM-compatible 22 inch class charcoal cookers
- Material: stainless steel
- Style: whirlpool cone charcoal basket
Customer Reviews
- “Great value on a well made product that shipped quickly. It works as intended and I saved a few bucks!”
- “Man this thing is a must have for crisping up Chicken on the Weber Kettle Grill. It centers your heat source so it bounce off the cover and back down on the Wings or Chicken parts. Our first Wing cook turned out great, and our guest went out and purchased one also.”
- “Turns a kettle grill into a hickory smoke air fryer. Creates an intense heat in the center of your grill for seating, and an indirect heat area around the edge. Gives chicken wings browned and crispy skin in 30-40 minutes indirectly. Turning every 8-10 minutes. The ring discolors from heat, but…”
Outspark Upgrade BBQ Whirlpool – Best Medium Cone Basket
The Outspark Upgrade BBQ Whirlpool is a medium stainless cone basket that can work for WSM-compatible charcoal control. It is useful when you want a simple one-piece insert instead of a welded basket and ash pan.
Its main appeal is controlled heat placement. The cone shape can focus charcoal in the middle while leaving room around the perimeter for indirect cooking.
It is not the same as a Weber Smokey Mountain charcoal ring. Treat it as a compact upgrade for airflow and heat-zone control, not as the highest-capacity basket in the guide.
Highlights
- One-piece stainless construction.
- Medium cone shape helps create a center heat zone.
- Simple insert for cooks who do not need a full basket assembly.
What We’d Improve
- Universal compatibility language is broad.
- Best for heat zoning, not maximum charcoal capacity.
Specifications
- Fit: WSM-compatible 22 inch class charcoal cookers
- Material: stainless steel
- Style: whirlpool cone charcoal basket
Customer Reviews
- “Perfect for bbq as I needed. Works well as shown. Good quality that has last years now”
- “I suppose it’s a little premature to review this right now since I cannot yet speak to its durability. (I hate when things seem great at first only to fall apart quickly…but I digress.) I have been grilling for many years and recently “splurged” on this little dome-shaped gizmo – and then I…”
- “I love this thing it certainly works as advertising. In the fire in the middle and put your wings around it it works great.”
How to Choose a Weber Smokey Mountain Charcoal Basket
Choose a Weber Smokey Mountain charcoal basket by matching cooker size first, then deciding whether you need a true high-capacity basket or a smaller airflow insert. The right upgrade should improve burn time, ash control, and temperature control without creating fit problems inside the WSM charcoal chamber.
Match the Basket to Your WSM Size
Start with cooker diameter. A properly stored charcoal basket for an 18.5 inch Weber Smokey Mountain will not fit like a 22.5 inch basket, and universal cone inserts need even more measuring.
Check outside diameter, height, and grate clearance. This matters most when a basket includes an ash pan, heat deflector, or tall cone shape.
Basket, Ring, or Whirlpool Insert
A true charcoal smoker basket usually replaces or upgrades the stock charcoal ring and grate area. It is the right path when burn time, ash handling, and one-piece cleanup are the priority.
A whirlpool insert is different. It gathers fuel and shapes airflow, but it does not always add the same charcoal capacity as a full Weber Smokey Mountain charcoal basket.
Airflow and Temperature Control
Better airflow can improve combustion and make the fire easier to restart after ash builds up. It can also make the cooker respond faster to vent changes.
That extra airflow may raise cooking temperature if you use the same vent settings as the stock setup. Plan one test cook before trusting a new basket for an overnight smoked beef brisket.
Burn Time and Ash Cleanup
Longer burn time comes from usable fuel capacity, steady airflow, and ash that does not choke the fire. A basket with an ash pan can also make cleanup less messy once the cooker is cold.
If your main problem is ash falling through the grate, a tighter basket or ring can help. If your main problem is heat-zone control, a whirlpool insert may be enough.
Material and Build
Heavy-gauge steel baskets feel more permanent and can handle repeated high-heat use. Stainless inserts resist corrosion and are easy to rinse, but thin metal can warp if abused.
Look for clean welds, a stable handle, a flat base, and enough open area for airflow. Those details matter more than decorative polish inside a smoker.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is a Weber Smokey Mountain charcoal basket worth it?
A Weber Smokey Mountain charcoal basket can be worth it if you run long cooks, want easier ash cleanup, or need steadier airflow through the fuel. It is less urgent if your stock ring already gives you the burn time and temperature control you need.
What size charcoal basket fits an 18.5 inch WSM?
Use a basket specifically listed for the 18.5 inch Weber Smokey Mountain. A 22.5 inch basket is too large, and universal cone inserts should be measured against your charcoal grate and cooking grate clearance before ordering.
What size charcoal basket fits a 22.5 inch WSM?
Use a basket or insert that clearly lists 22.5 inch WSM compatibility. True 22.5 inch baskets are larger and better suited for high fuel capacity, while cone inserts can fit the cooker but serve a different purpose.
Is a vortex basket the same as a charcoal ring?
No. A vortex or whirlpool basket shapes the fire and airflow, usually by concentrating charcoal in a cone or center zone. A charcoal ring or full basket is more about holding a larger fuel bed in the WSM charcoal chamber.
Will a larger charcoal basket make my WSM run hotter?
It can. More open airflow and a different fuel shape can make the cooker respond differently, especially when the basket has a deflector or ash pan. Start with smaller vent openings and learn the new setup before a long cook.
Can I use the Minion method with an upgraded charcoal basket?
Yes, many WSM owners use the Minion method with an upgraded charcoal basket. The basket can keep unlit fuel organized around the starter coals, but you still need to manage vents and avoid overfilling on the first test cook.
Final Verdict
For most 22.5 inch WSM owners, the Hunsaker Vortex Charcoal Basket for 22.5 WSM is the strongest Weber Smokey Mountain charcoal basket upgrade because it is a true basket with an ash pan and heavy steel build. Smaller WSM owners should compare the Hunsaker Vortex Charcoal Basket for 18.5 WSM instead.
If you want a stainless insert for airflow and heat-zone control rather than a full replacement basket, compare the Skyflame BBQ Stainless Steel Charcoal Basket, Uniflasy BBQ Whirlpool, and Outspark Upgrade BBQ Whirlpool. They are useful WSM-compatible upgrades, but they are not the same as a high-capacity WSM charcoal ring.
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