Pre-stressed steel columns represent an efficient structural solution for a great variety of temporary/permanent supports systems including large span spatial structures using pre-tensioned fabrics. The first step of the present investigation comprised a painstaking investigation of the structural behaviour of these members with the aid of finite element simulations performed with the ANSYS program. Its results indicated trends for the determination of the most efficient structural geometries, steel ties pre-stressing levels and characteristics. With these results in hand, the investigation proceeded with full-scale experimental tests executed in twelve meters pre-stressed stayed steel columns with an approximately diameter of ninety millimetres. The main contribution of the present investigation was the conception, development and execution of new tri-dimensional full-scale tests for this load bearing systems. The test results enable theoretical and numerical results to be validated against experimental evidence later to be introduced in structural design codes.