The best replacement for cones is rods.

The best alternatives to cones are rated as following:
★★★★★  rods
★★★  sticks
★★  flowers
★★  baffles
★  joints
★  pollen cones
★  candles
  shaved ice
  waffle cones
  fir cones
  paper cones
  pine cones
  cylinders
  snow cones
  aluminum cones
  pinecones
  national cones
  seed cones
  straight joints
  sugar cones
  sequoia cones
  incense
  female pine cones

Your alternative for cones is not listed? Suggest!
Speaking about cones, one probably shouldn't forget about soggy cones.

Other search terms related to cones and their ratings are:
★★★★★ soggy cones
You have in mind a companion for cones and it is not yet here? Propose!



Google Trends

Scale is based on the average worldwide traffic of cones in all years. Click on graph for more.
cones
rods
sticks