Concrete-filled fibre reinforced polymer (FRP) tubes (CFFTs) offer alternatives to traditional steel reinforced concrete columns or concrete-filled steel tubes, primarily due to their enhanced structural capacity and ductility, which are achieved by FRP hoop confinement, and by their reduced maintenance needs especially in coastal areas. However, the service load capacity of such elements is limited by the considerable damage to the concrete core that is necessary before the FRP confinement mechanism can be substantially mobilised. Prestressing of CFFTs in the hoop direction is proposed in this paper as a means of enhancing the service load capacity of these elements when loaded in compression, through early mobilisation of confinement stresses; this is a topic which remains comparatively unexplored in the research literature. An experimental campaign is presented using a novel, self-prestressing, self-compacting concrete developed at Empa to generate hoop prestrain of the CFRP tubes during the early stages of concrete curing. The research aims to quantify improvements in the compressive behaviour of CFFTs as a result of hoop prestress, and to compare this against otherwise identical non-hoop-prestressed CFFTs. Continuous distributed fibre optic sensors (DFOS) are used to provide comprehensive continuous measurement of hoop and axial strains. Using this method, a hoop prestress of 3.55 MPa was achieved after 28 days, resulting in a 25% increase in the in-service strength of the CFFTs due to a delay of the transition point within the stress-strain response, demonstrating successful mobilisation of confinement prior to dilatancy of the confined concrete.