This work presents the results related to the behaviour of cylindrical concrete specimens reinforced by external wrappings made of unidirectional carbon fibre/epoxy and bidirectional glass/polyester layers. The specimens have been subjected to a new uni-axial compression technique, consisting in sequential loading of the same sample, with the first loadstep terminated prior to failure of the column. Four types of jacketed specimens by glass fibre (GFRP), and one by a carbon fibre (CFRP) composites have been examined. The results obtained show that the CFRP-reinforced columns provide a significant increase in ultimate compression stress compared to the GFRP-reinforced ones reinforced. The damage mechanisms of the columns wrapped by the composite layers strongly depend on the reinforcement chosen. The hybrid composite jackets proposed in this work show also a remarkable increase in compressive strength and maximum radial strains, coupled with a significant low cost of the raw materials involved.