Stain or seal cypress columns

TWP is a good choice.
The common mistake people make is using a Minwax-type stain then a standard polyurethane finish. Those are strictly for interior use.
Cabot makes some good products as does SWP. Most exterior wood finishes don’t need to be top-coated.
The only “clear” exterior finishes to be considered are spar finishes, and they’re not actually clear but amber.
Bear in mind that you will need to refinish your columns from time to time.

I really like spar varnish on exterior wood. A mahogany door looks incredible when it’s finished like a wood boat. The downside is it requires a lot of coats (ideally 6+), and regular maintenance, so this is not likely the right choice for most.

Typically the clearer the finish, the faster it, and the wood it’s bonded to degrades(UV). So a solid color stain protects better than a semi-solid, which protects better than a clear coat.

I’ve heard good things about TWP. Cetol door and window has been around for a long time, and has a good reputation for durability. I’m sure SW has a comparable product too. I would get some scrap cypress similar to the columns and make some samples.

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I personally would Faux finish them

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If wanting a "pretty" look and low maintenance, this is the way. Stain and clear coats all have a short outdoor life especially with heavy sun exposure. And they look worse than anything when they start to fail.

I'd either faux finish or leave natural.

What is faux finish and how do you do it with a cypress column?

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What is faux finish

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Just using different paints to artistically make it look like wood. There is a painter here that specializes in doing this for people that are tired of re-finishing their front doors. His work is fantastic and most can't tell that its not real wood finish. A faux painted door will usually last a decade or more.

He won't even do regular re-finishing because he can't guarantee what exactly the wood will look like when stained or varnished. However he can guarantee that he can faux finish the door to look great.

Do some research on Total Boat Gleam Spar Varnish. I used it to finish the pine top on an outside storage bench and was very pleased with the results and ease of use.

It's not directly in the weather but it gets wet from time to time and is holding up well for over 2 years now.

Also did the MIL's 6 foot cypress porch swing with it for Christmas...looked really nice.

Very minimal change in color...some spars give an amber/yellow tone...this barely did at all.

Amazon link

As with any of these coatings be prepared to give a touch up every few years...especially if getting blasted by the sun. A light sanding and a single topcoat every once in awhile is all it takes.

Jack Tar Spar Varnish for the win. This is a marine coating so it holds up.

LINK

TWP is getting lots of recommendations from BTR big box and paint stores. There are various formulations. Best I can tell it's linseed oil + synthetic resin. For UV protection it uses iron oxide (rust). It's being pitched as a less labor intensive than film-forming coatings like marine spars that need annual sand/reapply.

I've just used a TWP clear on a new exterior mahogany door that gets strong afternoon sun. 2 initial coats a day apart. Supposed to reapply 9-12m with no sanding. I'll probably give the surfaces a good steel wool rubbing . The "clear" is actually reddish brown due to the iron oxide.

A note on faux finish. Old Capital Bldg in BTR is full of examples. Much of interior is plaster painted to look like stone or wood. Personally, I don't see the point of putting a fake finish on nice wood.

I think that Man o War is better than TWP. I’ve used both just once but MoW seemed to be better