Brand recommendations/Velcro or Snaps??

I've been cloth diapering for about 3+ years now, though 2 children and a third in July. I use pockets only and the only brands I find worth using are Alva and Mama Koala for day time. Then Kawaii Goodnight Heavy Wetter for night time. I've only ever used snaps, never velcro. I've heard a lot of things about velcro wearing out too quickly. I've been using my same snap diapers for over 3 years without them wearing out. If you do go with pockets, I wouldn't bother with microfiber inserts. They don't absorb very much and they stink. You also can't place them directly against your baby's skin because it will dry their skin out and I know some people like placing an insert inside the diaper, but not in the pocket. I never have though. I use bamboo. It absorbs moderately quickly and absorbs more than microfiber does. I use just one in my kids day time diapers. At night, I use 2x bamboo and 1 hemp on bottom. Hemp is extremely absorbent and can hold more liquid than other fabrics, but absorbs slowly. It should never be used alone or on top of a faster absorbing fabric, like bamboo or cotton.

I think Velcro is better when they're younger, like you said they're easier. But when they get a little bit older like over a year old they're also easier for the child to take off. we do prefolds with covers and our size one covers our velcro and most of our size two covers are snaps. we have one size two that's velcro and it's the only diaper my son knows how to take off at 17 months

I highly recommend Alva pocket diapers or applecheeks one size. And don't bother with any other kind of insert. Trust me, just get ozocosy cotton premium size prefolds from caterpillar baby.com. they're everythinggggg. I've tried everything on the market and these are the only thing that holds up. I'd get maybe some smaller sized ones or try to find some small prefolds someone's selling second hand (that's what I did) and use that til your baby is 3-4 months old and then switch to the ozocosy premium size. And they can be in that til they potty train. Let me know if you need any more help

I love velcro most, especially during newborn stage, but they're pricier so I rarely use them in my rotation now

I have both snaps and Velcro.My Velcro has held up very well in talking 4th baby well! I like both to be honest, I do t love one more than the other. I would try some of both if I were you :)