Basket-maker more comfortable taking top off (5)
I believe the answer is:
osier
'basket-maker' is the definition.
(tree whose wood is used to make baskets)
'more comfortable taking top off' is the wordplay.
'more comfortable' becomes 'cosier' ('cosy' can be similar in meaning to 'comfortable').
'taking top off' means to remove the first letter.
'cosier' with its initial letter taken off is 'OSIER'.
(Other definitions for osier that I've seen before include "Salix" , "Kind of twig used in basketwork" , "Kind of willow used in basketwork" , "may be a bit of a basket" , "Wetland willow" .)