Are smokeless fire pits actually smokeless?

No. Across the reviewers and specialist communities we read, the consistent message is 'smoke-LESS, not smoke-free.' Secondary combustion burns off most particulates once the fire is hot, but during start-up, when adding wet or unseasoned wood, or when smoldering down, you will still see smoke. Dry, seasoned hardwood is the single biggest factor in how clean the burn is.