A nondimensionalized structural optimization procedure is used to determine the effect on weight of specifying a) contrasting ring, stringer, and wall materials in J-stiffened, axially compressed cylinders, and b) alternate stiffener configurations. For conventional materials (Al, Mg, and Ti) having modulus-to-density ratios of approximately 108 in., lighter elastic designs result when less dense materials are introduced anywhere in the design; weight savings are proportional to the percentage of the lighter material used. However, since low-density materials usually have relatively low strengths, they are not efficient in stress-limite d designs. Two nonconventional materials, beryllium and beryllium-38% aluminum, are studied in combination with aluminum. Aluminum rings may be used in otherwise beryllium or Be-38% Al designs with small weight penalties. At low loads, weights of designs with Al stringers and a Be (or Be-38% Al) wall, or vice versa, are about midway between the weights for all-Al and all-Be (or all-Be-38% Al) designs. At high loads, results depend heavily upon strength-density ratios. A study of other stiffener configurations when a single material is used throughout the cylinder shows that Z-section (or C-section) rings and stringers give results similar to the J-section results. The following three configurations usually are slightly superior to the all-J or all-Z configurations: integral T stringers with J rings, integral L stringers with Z rings, and a continuous, longitudinal, trapezoidal corrugation with angle-section rings. Solid rectangular rings and stringers can be competitive with the other configurations depending upon the design restraints imposed.